Electrochemical characterization of a new system for detection of superoxide ion in alkaline solution

A new medium system containing dimethyldistearylammonium bromide (DSAB) was developed for the electrochemical detection of superoxide ion in alkaline solution. The reductions of molecular oxygen in alkaline media as a function of the electrode material were evaluated for Pt, Ag, Au and glassy carbon (GC) electrode. And a quasi-reversible redox process for the O₂/O₂⁻ couple was only obtained at the Pt electrode. The electrochemical responses of the O₂/O₂⁻ couple at a platinum electrode and a platinized platinum electrode were compared, which suggesting that the electrochemical behavior of the O₂/O₂⁻ couple was improved greatly at a platinized Pt electrode. The frequency change (mass change) on the surface of Pt electrode was characterized by the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance. The reduction of the dissolved oxygen at a platinized Pt electrode in the presence of DSAB was also studied by using chronocoulometry and the result indicated that a one-electron reduction was involved. In addition, the scavenging activity of cysteine towards superoxide ion was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry.     

Investigation of ruthenium deposition onto a platinized platinum electrode in sulfuric acid media

Ruthenium deposition onto platinized Pt electrode in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution is investigated. The I–V profiles of the Pt electrode covered with Ru depend on the potential of Ru deposition. This phenomenon is explained by the increasing degree of oxidation of the Ru layers deposited at higher potentials. Oxidation of Ru deposited at low potentials begins with comparatively slow processes. A mechanism for Ru deposition via ionization of hydrogen adsorbed on platinized Pt electrode is proposed.     

Studies of a photosynthetic photoelectrochemical cell using various electrodes

We have developed a photochemical cell using a combination of photosynthetic electron transport (photosystem I particles) and the photoreduction of a dye such as flavin mononucleotide (FMN) (6). The overall power conversion efficiency depends on the rate of charge transfer across the electrode surfaces in addition to the efficiency of the photosynthetic and photochemical reactions. For this reason, we studied the effect of varying the nature of the electrodes on the power developed. We found that reticulated vitreous carbon electrodes showed higher power conversion efficiencies than did nickel mesh, platinum, or SnO₂ glass. There are two reasons for this. First, the ratio of actual to apparent surface area is greater for RVC electrodes than for the others. Second, FMN and its photoproducts react better with carbon than platinum electrodes. Substituting RVC electrodes for platinum increased the power conversion efficiency from 1.0 to 3.9%. Platinizing platinum, nickel mesh, or brass electrodes also increased the power developed. However, the photopotential remained stable for several hours only for the platinized platinum electrodes.     

Electrocatalytic Phenol Oxidation on Mixed Pt‐RuO2 Nanoparticle Modified Electrode

Abstract

Nanoscale Pt/RuO₂ colloid with carbon paste support was synthesized and used to prepare a modified electrode for phenol detection. The results showed that the Pt/RuO₂ catalyst has high activity for electrooxidation of phenol with reduced intermediate polymerization due to its significantly low potential for phenol oxidation. The detection limit was as low as 10^?9 mol L^?1 for the polishable Pt/RuO₂/C paste electrode with good reproducibility.     

Electrochemical Codeposition of Platinum and Molybdenum Oxides: Formation of Composite Films with Distinct Electrocatalytic Activity for Hydrogen Peroxide Detection

The electrochemical properties of gold electrode surfaces modified by molybdenum oxide films intercalated with platinum microparticles have been described. The incorporation of Pt microparticles at the oxide film was characterized by PIXE (particle induced X‐ray emission) spectroscopy. The modified electrode showed electrochemical activity at around ?0.5 V in 50 mmol L^?1 Na₂SO₄ supporting electrolyte (pH 3), corresponding to the reduction of protons at platinum sites and further transfer of hydrogen atoms to form reduced molybdenum oxides (bronzes). At 0.1 V, the MoO₃ / Pt electrode showed a better performance for hydrogen peroxide oxidation than on platinized gold electrodes. The solution pH has a marked effect on the voltammetric profile and best responses for hydrogen peroxide were obtained at the 5.0 to 6.0 pH range. The activation of the electrode by polarization at negative potentials was also studied and a mechanism by which more platinum sites are available as a consequence of this process was proposed. Calibration plots for hydrogen peroxide were highly linear (r=0.9989) in the 0.2 to 1.6 mmol L^?1 concentration range, with a relative standard deviation (RSD)<1%.     

Microelectrode Electrochemistry in Microemulsion Systems

Abstract

In this paper, we demonstrate the microelectrode electrochemistry of a simple electroactive probe (ferrocene) in SDS/n‐C₄H₉OH/H₂O microemulsion systems. The oxidation of ferrocene within the microemulsion environment was carried out at a Pt microelectrode using a three‐electrode assembly with a Pt wire acting as an auxiliary electrode and an Ag wire as the pseudo‐reference electrode. Excellent Nernstian electrochemical responses were observed. The well‐defined reversible electrochemical responses facilitated the measurement of the self‐diffusion coefficient of microemulsion droplets and introduced the possibility of probing the structural changes of microemulsion systems.     

A cobalt(II) phthalocyanine with indole substituents: formation,characterization and electrocatalytic studies

Herein, we report the formation of a new cobalt(II) phthalocyanine (CoPc) containing peripheral tetra-substituted indole (CoPc-ind, 2) moieties. The derivatized phthalonitrile, 4-(indole-4-oxy)phthalonitrile (1) as well its corresponding metal complex was characterized by NMR (for 1), IR– and UV–Vis spectroscopy as well as TOF mass spectrometry and elemental analysis (for 2). The electrochemical properties of the N₄-macrocyclic metal complex were investigated using cyclic- and square-wave voltammetry as well as corroborated by UV–Vis spectroelectrochemistry. The CoPc was electrodeposited onto the surface of a Pt working electrode followed by the immobilization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) onto the modified working electrode surface. The electrocatalytic activity of the resultant modified electrode toward dopamine revealed a lower ΔE value of 80?mV versus Ag|AgCl for the modified (2-MWCNTs) Pt electrode compared to the bare Pt electrode (ΔE?=?280?mV vs. Ag|AgCl). The diffusion- and convection-controlled electron-transfer kinetics of the chemically modified electrode were evaluated by chronoamperometry and rotating disk electrode techniques. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic studies revealed that the 2-MWCNTs Pt electrode had a lower charge-transfer resistance and a higher apparent electron-transfer rate constant.     

Oxygen reduction on rotating porous cylinder of modified reticulated vitreous carbon

A rotating cylinder porous electrode (RCPE) of reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) matrix was used for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in H₂SO₄ solutions. Cyclic voltammetry and hydrodynamic voltammetric techniques were used for electrochemical characterization of the ORR. Cyclic voltammograms in stationary solutions showed better performance of the anodically oxidized RVC (for periods of 1 and 5 min) for the ORR than the untreated RVC in which the first scan (ORR) after the surface treatment was of no utility, and the second scan was presented here. The hydrodynamic voltammograms obtained at the treated RCPE gave well-defined limiting current plateau with positively shifted onset potential as compared with the untreated (plain) RVC electrode. The analysis of the limiting current data on RCPE and the determination of a limiting current enhancement factor α enabled us to quantify the enhancement extent exerted by the anodic oxidation treatment. An enhancement factor of up to ∼3 was obtained at the RCPE electrode anodically oxidized for 5 min. It was found that the α slightly decreased with the rotation speed depending on the extent of anodic oxidation of RVC. This was attributed to the different mode of mass transfer (diffusion) to the interior of the micropores with different microstructure resulting from different extent of anodic oxidation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic and scanning electron microscopic measurements helped us to characterize the anodically oxidized RVC surface.     

Occlusion of hydrogen in electrodeposited platinum layers

Occlusion of hydrogen in platinized platinum electrodes has been studied in 1 mol/dm³ H₂SO₄ electrolyte. It has been found that the amount of hydrogen dissolved in the platinum layer depends on the structure of the Pt deposit, which is determined by the parameters of electrodeposition. Composition of the platinizing solution as well as the potential of Pt deposition are decisive parameters. On the basis of experimental results it is assumed that occlusion of hydrogen takes place in special structural elements of the platinum layer which are formed in the course of Pt deposition. Hydrogen dissolution versus H-deposition potential, H-deposition time and Pt layer thickness relationships are also presented. Received: 2 March 1999 / Accepted: 25 May 1999     

吸附中间物表面扩散对Pt/Nafion体系氢析出反应影响初步研究

实验表明 ,铂黑粉末 /Nafion复合微电极的析氢超电势比同样面积的平面铂复合微电极为低 .这是由于Nafion膜与平面铂电极或者铂黑粉末形成的Pt/Nation界面之外还存在可供反应中间物扩散及进行复合反应的自由铂表面 ,这些扩散和复合反应降低了Pt/Nafion界面上电化学反应中间物浓度 ,从而降低了氢超电势 ,加速了析氢反应的速度 .     

磷钼酸修饰铂电极的电化学行为及对甲醇氧化的电催化作用

通过循环伏安扫描法制备了PMo₁₂修饰Pt/Pt电极,并研究了该修饰电极在硫酸溶液中的电化学行为。研究结果表明:虽然磷钼酸具有较大的分子尺寸,但在Pt/Pt电极上仍能发生吸附作用,并且由于PMo₁₂在电极上的吸附,降低了Pt/Pt电极上氢区和氧区的荷电量,另外在0.02V左右还观察到磷钼酸的氧化-还原峰。通过稳态极化曲线和循环伏安曲线研究了PMo₁₂修饰Pt/Pt电极对甲醇氧化的电催化作用。测试结果表明:PMo₁₂修饰铂基电极不但对甲醇的电氧化具有较高的活性,而且还有一定的抗CO中毒性。该修饰电极还具有较高的稳定性。     

Specific features of interaction between formic acid and oxygen adsorbed on smooth polycrystalline platinum: Transients of the open-circuit potential

Transients of the open-circuit potential, which are observed when formic acid is interacting wit adsorbed oxygen (O_ads) preliminarily accumulated on polycrystalline “smooth” platinum (pcPt), are measure in an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid. It is shown that, as with platinized platinum (Pt/Pt), at large coverage by adsorbed oxygen (θ_O = 1?0.8), adsorbed oxygen interacts directly with molecules of formic acid from solution. In the region of medium coverages (θ_O = 0.8?0.2), on the other hand, a mechanism of “conjugated reactions” is realized. It is established that, in the case of pcPt, the direct interaction of O_ads with molecules of HCOOH from solution proceeds slower by nearly three times and the interaction via the mechanism of “conjugated reactions,” faster by about three times, as compared with Pt/Pt.     

Enhancement of the sensitivity and selectivity of oxidation of H2O2 on platinum wire at low working potential by platinization and covering of heteropolypyrrole film for amperometric micro-biosensor construction

A microelectrode for glucose determination was constructed by immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOx) on a platinized platinum (Pt) by electrochemical polymerization of a solution containing GOx, pyrrole, and a substituted pyrrole, 4-(3-pyrrolyl)-4-oxobutyric acid. Due to platinization and covering with the polymerized heteropolypyrrole (hPPy) film, the electrode prepared showed high sensitivity to H₂O₂ at a low potential and significantly reduced the response to electroactive compounds, such as ascorbate, urate and 4-acetamidophenol. Working at 200 mV (vs. SCE) the electrode showed a linear response to glucose from 1.6 to 10 mM with a high sensitivity of 1 μA/mM, whereas the response to 1 mM ascorbate, urate, and 4-acetamidophenol was 0.53 μA, 18 nA and 4 nA, respectively, which was about 2.5%, 1.0% and 1.0% of that at a bare electrode. The stability of the electrode was tested at intervals of three or five days, and each test lasted about two hours. After 6 months examination, only 30% of its activity was lost.     

Mechanism of interaction of molecular hydrogen with adsorbed oxygen on platinum electrodes under open circuit conditions

Transients of open-circuit potential observed at the reaction of hydrogen molecules with oxygen preliminarily adsorbed (O_ads) on the smooth polycrystalline (pc Pt) and platinized platinum (Pt/Pt) electrodes are measured under conditions of controlled stirring of solution (0.5 M H₂ SO₄). The dependence of the surface coverage with O_ads(θ_O) on the potential in the cause of the potential decay on pc Pt are determined. It is found that for Pt/Pt, the reaction kinetics is largely determined by diffusion of H₂. For pc Pt in the range of high θ_O, the Eley-Ridiel mechanism is realized. For medium θ_O, the regions where the reaction obeys the mechanisms of Eley-Ridiel, “conjugated reactions”, and diffusion control are observed to overlap (even at the most intense stirring possible). The rate of H₂ reaction with O_ads is substantially higher compared with analogous reactions of CO, HCOOH, and CH₃OH.     

Transients of the Open-Circuit Potential during Carbon Monoxide Interaction with Oxygen Preliminarily Adsorbed on Smooth and Platinized Platinum Electrodes

Variations of potential E in time , observed during the carbon monoxide interaction with preliminarily-adsorbed oxygen O_ads on smooth and platinized platinum electrodes under open-circuit conditions (supporting electrolyte 0.5 M H₂SO₄), are measured. The potential decay rate on smooth Pt is more than ten times that on Pt/Pt; there are some differences in the transients as well. The obtained data suggest that CO interacts with O_ads on smooth Pt and Pt/Pt via different mechanisms. Two models for the process on smooth platinum are considered. In one model, the interaction of O_ads with CO from solution is accepted as the rate-determining step; in the other, the interaction of O_ads with CO_ads. A comparison of theoretical E vs. dependences with experimental data using the MathCad program suggests that CO interacts with O_ads via both mechanisms.     

The Electrochemical Detection of Certain Tricyclic Drugs at Polymer Electrodes: A Preliminary Report

Abstract

The development of a polymer electrode using reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) as a support material is described. A conducting layer of (poly)carbazole or (poly)thiophene is el eletrochemically plated onto a RVC surface and the system is applied to the study of the electrochemistry of certain tricyclic drugs. An electrochemical response is seen for amitriptyline, nortriptyline and protriptyline all of which were previously reported to be electrochemically inactive while iminostilbene, imipramine and carbamazepine demonstrate similar electrochemical behaviour at both polymer and conventional carbon electrodes. The advantages of such electrodes and their use as working electrodes in hydrodynammic electrochemical detectors is presented.     

A Highly Sensitive Amperometric Galactose Biosensor Based on Graphene-doped Sol-gel-derived Titania-Nafion Composite Films

A highly sensitive amperometric galactose biosensor was developed by encapsulating galactose oxidase within the graphene-doped sol-gel titania-Nafion composite film on platinized glassy carbon electrode. Due to the combined electrocatalytic activity of graphene and Pt NPs on the electrode towards hydrogen peroxide as well as the mesoporous nature of the titania-Nafion composite, the present galactose biosensor exhibited relatively fast response time under 2 s, high sensitivity of 40.6 mAM⁻¹cm⁻², and wide dynamic range over three orders of magnitude with a detection limit of 3.78×10⁻⁶ M (S/N=3). In addition, the biocompatible composite in the biosensor secures excellent long-term stability.     

Enhancement of the sensitivity and selectivity of oxidation of H2O2 on platinum wire at low working potential by platinization and covering of heteropolypyrrole film for amperometric micro-biosensor construction

A microelectrode for glucose determination was constructed by immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOx) on a platinized platinum (Pt) by electrochemical polymerization of a solution containing GOx, pyrrole, and a substituted pyrrole, 4-(3-pyrrolyl)-4-oxobutyric acid. Due to platinization and covering with the polymerized heteropolypyrrole (hPPy) film, the electrode prepared showed high sensitivity to H₂O₂ at a low potential and significantly reduced the response to electroactive compounds, such as ascorbate, urate and 4-acetamidophenol. Working at 200 mV (vs. SCE) the electrode showed a linear response to glucose from 1.6 to 10 mM with a high sensitivity of 1 μA/mM, whereas the response to 1 mM ascorbate, urate, and 4-acetamidophenol was 0.53 μA, 18 nA and 4 nA, respectively, which was about 2.5%, 1.0% and 1.0% of that at a bare electrode. The stability of the electrode was tested at intervals of three or five days, and each test lasted about two hours. After 6 months examination, only 30% of its activity was lost. Received: 16 March / Revised: 26 July 1998 / Accepted: 1 August 1998     

Oxygen reduction reaction activity of monodispersed Pt nanoparticles-loaded carbon black catalyst prepared with a Pt carbonyl cluster anion

Pt nanoparticles-loaded carbon black (CB) was prepared from Pt carbonyl cluster complexes, and had much narrower size distribution than commercial Pt nanoparticles/CB. In the former the monodispersed Pt nanoparticles were highly dispersed on CB without aggregation even at high Pt loading of 80 wt.%. Hydrodynamic voltammograms in O₂-saturated 0.05 M H₂SO₄ solution at 30 °C showed that the onset potential of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) current for the monodispersed Pt nanoparticles/CB electrode was more positive than that for a polycrystalline Pt electrode and similar to that for the commercial Pt nanoparticles/CB electrode. Moreover, the mass activity for ORR for the monodispersed Pt nanoparticles/CB electrode was ca. 4.9 times higher than that for the commercial Pt nanoparticles/CB electrode, clearly indicating that the control of size distribution of Pt nanoparticles is meaningful for reducing the Pt consumption.     

Three-Dimensional Pinecone-like Binder-Free Pt–TiO2 Nanorods on Ti Mesh Structures: Synthesis,Characterization and Electroactivity towards Ethanol Oxidation

We report here the synthesis of binderless and template-less three-dimensional (3D) pinecone-shaped Pt/TiO₂/Ti mesh structure. The TiO₂ hydrothermally synthesized onto Ti mesh is composed of a mixture of flower-like nanorods and vertically aligned bar-shaped structures, whereas Pt film grown by pulsed laser deposition displays a smooth surface. XRD analyses reveal an average crystallite size of 41.4 nm and 68.5 nm of the TiO₂ nanorods and Pt, respectively. In H₂SO₄ solution, the platinum oxide formation at the Pt/TiO₂/Ti mesh electrode is 180 mV more negative than that at the Pt/Ti mesh electrode, indicating that TiO₂ provides oxygeneous species at lower potentials, which will facilitate the removal of CO-like intermediates and accelerate an ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). Indeed, the Pt/TiO₂/Ti mesh catalyst exhibits current activity of 1.19 mA towards an EOR at a remarkably superior rate of 4.4 times that of the Pt/Ti mesh electrode (0.27 mA). Moreover, the presence of TiO₂ as a support to Pt delivers a steady-state current of 2.1 mA, with an increment in durability of 6.6 times compared to Pt/Ti mesh (0.32 mA). Pt is chosen here as a benchmark catalyst and we believe that with catalysts that perform better than Pt, such 3D pinecone structures can be useful for a variety of catalytic or photoelectrochemical reactions.