Cyclic voltammetry of highly hydrophilic ions at a supported liquid membrane

Cyclic voltammetry has been used to study the coupling of ion transfer reactions at a liquid membrane. The liquids are either supported by a porous hydrophobic membrane (polyvinylidene difluoride, PVDF) when the organic solvent is non-volatile (o-nitrophenyloctylether) or are merely a free standing organic solvent layer such as 1,2-dichloroethane comprised between two hydrophilic dialysis membranes supporting the adjacent aqueous phases. The passage of current across the liquid membrane is associated with two ion transfer reactions across the two polarised liquid liquid interfaces in series. It is shown that it is possible to study the transfer of highly hydrophilic ions at one interface by limiting the mass transfer of the other ion transfer reaction at the other interface. Indeed, for systems comprising an ion M in one aqueous phase and a reference ion R partitioned between the membrane and the other aqueous phase, the observed and simulated cyclic voltammograms have a half-wave potential determined by the Gibbs energy of transfer of M transferring at one interface and by the limiting mass transfer of R at the other interface. This new methodology opens a way to measure the Gibbs energy of transfer of highly hydrophilic or hydrophobic ions, which usually limits the potential window at single liquid liquid interfaces (ITIES).     

Size selective and volume exclusion effects on ion transfer at the silicalite modified liquid-liquid interface

The modification of the liquid/liquid interface with membranes of silicalite, a neutral framework zeolite, is used to extend the potential window. This feature allows the observation of the transfer of extremely hydrophilic ions, due to the size-exclusion of organic ions from the interior of the zeolitic framework. Similarly, volume exclusion effects are shown to affect facilitated ion transfer processes involving alkali metal cations. In contrast, proton transfer is largely unaffected by the presence of the zeolite, which is suggestive of more rapid diffusion processes within the interior of the framework. The technique of liquid/liquid electrochemistry should allow the measurement of solution phase transport parameters for ions within microporous hosts.     

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.     

Polymer catalysts for important photoelectron transfer reactions

Photozymes are novel water-soluble polymers made by the copolymerization of mixtures of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers, some of which contain chromophores capable of absorbing light and transmitting the excitation energy to selected traps by means of the antenna effect. The interactions between these groups and water force the polymer to adopt a hypercoiled conformation with hydrophobic pockets similar to those in the catalytic sites of natural enzymes. Hydrophobic organic compounds in the water solution will seek out and localize themselves in these regions, where they are subjected to electronic energy transfer from the light-excited antenna chromophores. The chemical reactions which occur are often different and more specific than in the case of photoreactions in common organic solvents. In a number of cases the reactions appear to proceed by an electron transfer mechanism. This paper summarizes recent results on the dechlorination of chlorinated aromatic and aliphatic compounds, and laser studies of multiphoton processes in aromatic compounds such as 9-(acetoxymethyl)phenanthrene (AMP).     

双环己基18冠6对水／硝基苯界面离子的促进传输

Li~-和H~-因较强的亲水性,较难穿越液/液界面进行传输。本文报道了冠醚双环已基18冠6对Li~+,Na~+,Rb~-和H~-在水/硝基苯界面的促进传输行为,求得了相应促进传输过程的一系列参数,并对被传输离子在传输过程中的形态变化进行了初步的探讨。     

Interaction of monovalent ions with hydrophobic and hydrophilic colloids: charge inversion and ionic specificity

Here we study experimentally and by simulations the interaction of monovalent organic and inorganic anions with hydrophobic and hydrophilic colloids. In the case of hydrophobic colloids, our experiments show that charge inversion is induced by chaotropic inorganic monovalent ions but it is not induced by kosmotropic inorganic anions. For organic anions, giant charge inversion is observed at very low electrolyte concentrations. In addition, charge inversion disappears for both organic and inorganic ions when turning to hydrophilic colloids. These results provide an experimental evidence for the hydrophobic effect as the driving force for both ion specific effects and charge inversion. In the case of organic anions, our molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with full atomic detail show explicitly how the large adsorption free energies found for hydrophobic colloids are transformed into large repulsive barriers for hydrophilic colloids. Simulations confirm that solvation free energy (and hence the hydrophobic effect) is responsible for the build up of a Stern layer of adsorbed ions and charge inversion in hydrophobic colloids and it is also the mechanism preventing charge inversion in hydrophilic colloids. Overall, our experimental and simulation results suggest that the interaction of monovalent ions with interfaces is dominated by solvation thermodynamics, that is, the chaotropic/kosmotropic character of ions and the hydrophobic/hydrophilic character of surfaces.     

Phosphate and arsenate electro-insertion processes into a N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctylphenylenediamine redox liquid

The electro-insertion of ions is a well-known phenomenon, which allows the transfer of anions or cations across phase boundaries to be monitored and driven electro-chemically. Extremely hydrophilic anions, such as phosphate and arsenate, are not usually observed to undergo electro-insertion. It is shown here that at organic redox liquid|water|electrode triple interfaces these anions can be forced electro-chemically to transfer into organic media.The transfer process of phosphate anions from aqueous buffer solutions into organic microdroplets of the redox liquid N,N,N^′,N^′-tetraoctylphenylenediamine (TOPD) is pH and concentration sensitive. It is shown that phosphate is transferred in the form of PO₄HK⁻ in the presence of phosphate buffer. Two distinct potential regions are identified and attributed to (i) interfacial redox processes at the liquid|liquid interface associated with deprotonation and (ii) bulk redox processes associated with anion transfer from the aqueous to the organic phase.The comparison of phosphate and arsenate electro-insertion processes suggests that arsenate is less hydrophilic and transferred into the organic phase preferentially.     

A comparative study of the anion transfer kinetics across a water/nitrobenzene interface by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and square-wave voltammetry at thin organic film-modified electrodes

The kinetics of the transfer of a series of hydrophilic monovalent anions across the water/nitrobenzene (W/NB) interface has been studied by means of thin organic film-modified electrodes in combination with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and square-wave voltammetry. The studied ions are Cl-, Br-, I-, ClO4-, NO3-, SCN-, and CH3COO-. The electrode assembly comprises a graphite electrode (GE) covered with a thin NB film containing a neutral strongly hydrophobic redox probe (decamethylferrocene or lutetium bis(tetra-tert-butylphthalocyaninato)) and an organic supporting electrolyte. The modified electrode is immersed in an aqueous solution containing a supporting electrolyte and transferring ions, and used in a conventional three-electrode configuration. Upon oxidation of the redox probe, the overall electrochemical process proceeds as an electron-ion charge-transfer reaction coupling the electron transfer at the GE/NB interface and compensates ion transfer across the W/NB interface. The rate of the ion transfer across the W/NB interface is the limiting step in the kinetics of the overall coupled electron-ion transfer reaction. Moreover, the transferring ion that is initially present in the aqueous phase only at a concentration lower than the redox probe, controls the mass transfer regime in the overall reaction. A rate equation describing the kinetics of the ion transfer that is valid for the conditions at thin organic film-modified electrodes is derived. Kinetic data measured with two electrochemical techniques are in very good agreement.     

Selective silver ion transfer voltammetry at the polarised liquid/liquid interface

Transfer of silver ions across the water/1,2-dichloroethane interface was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV). In the absence of added neutral ionophore, Ag+ transferred across the interface when the organic phase contained either tetraphenylborate or tetrakis(4-chloro)phenylborate anions, but this transfer was not possible in the presence of organic phase hexafluorophosphate or perchlorate anions. The ion transfer processes observed were independent of the nature of the organic phase cation. The CV in the presence of tetraphenylborate exhibited a shape consistent with an ion transfer followed by chemical reaction; the rate constant for the following chemical reaction was 0.016 s(-1). In the presence of tetrakis(4-chloro)phenylborate, a return peak equivalent in magnitude to the forward peak was observed, indicative of a simple ion transfer reaction uncomplicated by accompanying chemical reactions. The selectivity of the transfer was assessed with respect to other metal cations: no transfers for copper, cadmium, lead, bismuth, cobalt, nickel, palladium or zinc were observed. The selectivity of the transfer suggests this can form the basis of a selective voltammetric methodology for the determination of silver ions.     

Hydrodynamic voltammetry at the liquid|liquid interface: facilitated ion transfer and the rotating diffusion cell

A new approach to the voltammetric investigation of facilitated ion transfer processes is reported. The technique uses a rotating diffusion cell approach to induce laminar flow in the organic phase of a liquid|liquid electrochemical cell. The interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES) was stabilised against rotation with either γ-alumina or a track-etched polyester membrane. The resultant voltammetry is shown to be consistent with the Koutecký–Levich equation enabling kinetic parameters associated with facilitated transfer of sodium by dibenzo-18-crown-6 across the water|1,2-dichloroethane interface to be evaluated. In particular, the use of the more hydrophilic alumina membrane permits the uncertainties regarding the use of the membrane-stabilised ITIES, namely the interfacial position, to be eliminated.     

Ca2+ enhanced electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH by immobilized nitro-fluorenones

Glassy carbon electrodes are modified with nitro-fluorenone derivatives, a new family of catalyst precursors for electrocatalytic nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) oxidation. One of the nitro substituents is electrochemically converted into a reversible NO/NHOH redox couple producing a very efficient mediator for the electrooxidation of the coenzyme. The catalytic efficiency can be enhanced by adding Ca²⁺ ions to the electrolyte, leading most likely to a specific complexation with the phosphate groups of the coenzyme. This makes NADH less hydrophilic and therefore favors its contact with the organic catalyst monolayer. A further increase in catalytic activity is obtained by introducing a carboxy group into the catalyst molecule. In this case Ca²⁺ seems to act as a bridging ion between NADH and the catalyst, coordinating their interaction and thus enhancing the electron transfer efficiency.     

Ion-specific weak adsorption of salts and water/octanol transfer free energy of a model amphiphilic hexapeptide

An amphiphilic hexapeptide has been used as a model to quantify how specific ion effects induced by addition of four salts tune the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance and induce temperature-dependant coacervate formation from aqueous solution. The hexapeptide chosen is present as a dimer with low transfer energy from water to octanol. Taking sodium chloride as the reference state in the Hofmeister scale, we identify water activity effects and therefore measure the free energy of transfer from water to octanol and separately the free energy associated to the adsorption of chaotropic ions or the desorption of kosmotropic ions for the same amphiphilic peptide. These effects have the same order of magnitude: therefore, both energies of solvation as well as transfer into octanol strongly depend on the nature of the electrolytes used to formulate any buffer. Model peptides could be used on separation processes based on criteria linked to "Hofmeister" but different from volume and valency.     

Formation and characterization of protein-protein complexes in vacuo

Gas-phase reactions between multiply charged positive and negative protein ions are carried out in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. The ions react with one another by proton transfer and complex formation. Proton transfer products and complexes are formed via competitive processes in single ion/ion encounters. The relative contributions of proton transfer versus complex formation are dependent upon the charges of the ions as well as other characteristics of the ions yet to be clearly delineated. No fragmentation of covalent bonds of the protein reactants is observed. A model that considers the trajectories associated with ion/ion interactions appears to hold the most promise in accounting for the results. The formation of bound ion/ion orbits appears to play an important role in determining overall reaction kinetics as well as the distribution of ion/ion reaction products. Tandem mass spectrometry is used to compare protein complexes formed in the gas-phase with those formed initially in solution and subsequently liberated by electrospray; it is shown that both forms of complex dissociate similarly, but the complexes formed in the gas phase can retain a "memory" of their method of formation.     

Detection by ion-pairing probes in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Summary Compounds without own detector response can be detected and quantified by a UV-absorbing or fluorescent, ion-pairing probe in reversed-phase liquid-solid systems. Charged as well as uncharged samples give response by affecting the distribution of the probe between the phases. The probe is usually a hydrophobic organic ion. It is included in the mobile phase, which also contains a counter ion and an ion of the same charge as the probe, both fairly hydrophilic. The choice of properties and concentrations of the hydrophilic ions is essential for the response since too low and too high distribution of the mobile phase ions to the adsorbent will make the system insensitive. It is with UV-absorbing probes possible to get a response corresponding to a molar absorptivity of more than 3000 for ionic samples. Fluorescent probes have given 3–5 times higher sensitivity. Uncharged compounds give as a rule lower response. A combination of two UV-absorbing probes with different charge gives a considerable improvement of the response for samples with low retention. A simplified theoretical model for the detector response is suggested on the basis of detailed studies of the concentration changes in the eluted mobile phase.     

Catalytic Activity of Alkali Metal Cations for the Chemical Oxygen Reduction Reaction in a Biphasic Liquid System Probed by Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy

Chemical reduction of dioxygen in organic solvents for the production of reactive oxygen species or the concomitant oxidation of organic substrates can be enhanced by the separation of products and educts in biphasic liquid systems. Here, the coupled electron and ion transfer processes is studied as well as reagent fluxes across the liquid|liquid interface for the chemical reduction of dioxygen by decamethylferrocene (DMFc) in a dichloroethane-based organic electrolyte forming an interface with an aqueous electrolyte containing alkali metal ions. This interface is stabilized at the orifice of a pipette, across which a Galvani potential difference is externally applied and precisely adjusted to enforce the transfer of different alkali metal ions from the aqueous to the organic electrolyte. The oxygen reduction is followed by H₂O₂ detection in the aqueous phase close to the interface by a microelectrode of a scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM). The results prove a strong catalytic effect of hydrated alkali metal ions on the formation rate of H₂O₂, which varies systematically with the acidity of the transferred alkali metal ions in the organic phase.     

Hydration shell exchange dynamics during ion transfer across the liquid/liquid interface

We examine using molecular dynamics simulations the rate and mechanism of water molecules exchange around the Li(+) and Na(+) ions during ion transfer across the interface between water and nitrobenzene. As the ions are transferred from the water to the organic phase, they keep their first hydration shell and an incomplete second shell. The rate of water exchange between the first shell and the rest of the interfacial water molecule decreases during the transfer, which is consistent with an increase in the barrier along the ion-water potential of mean force. While in bulk water the exchange of water molecules around the Li(+) follows an associative (A) or associative interchange (I(a)) type mechanism, the fraction of exchange events of type A increases at the interface. In contrast, while in bulk water the exchange of water molecules around the six coordinated Na(+) hydrated species mainly follows a dissociative mechanism, the situation at the interface involves an equilibrium interchange between the four- and five-coordinated hydrated ion. Simulation of the reversed process, in which the hydrated Li(+) ion is transferred to the aqueous phase, shows the same general behavior as a function of location from the interface.     

Shape-selective formation and characterization of catalytically active iridium nanoparticles

Iridium (Ir) nanoparticles (NPs) of variable shapes have been synthesized via the reduction of Ir(III) ions in CTAB micellar media containing alkaline 2,7-DHN under 4h of UV-irradiation. The one-step process generates different shapes, such as nano-spheres, nano-chains, nano-flakes, and nano-needles. The synthesized Ir NPs are stable for more than a month in ambient conditions. The particles' morphology can be tuned by simply changing the surfactant-to-metal ion molar ratios and altering other reaction parameters. The mechanisms of the Ir particle formation and effects of different reaction parameters were studied in detail. The Ir nano-needles serve as a good catalyst for the reduction of organic dye molecules in presence of NaBH(4). The catalysis rate was compared by considering the electron transfer process during the reduction of the dye molecules. The present method would lead to a quick process for the synthesis of other mono-metallic, composite, and semiconductor particles with variable shapes. The Ir NPs will find promising applications in different types of organic and inorganic catalysis reactions, nanoelectronics, and biomedical applications.     

Univalent cation-exchange in organic solvent water and organic solvent-water-phenol mixtures

Selectivity coefficients, K(H)(M), for the exchange of alkali metal ions and ammonium ions with the hydrogen form of ZeoKarb 225 cation-exchange resin have been determined in various organic solvent-water and organic solvent-water-phenol mixtures. There is an increase in K(H)(M) in passing from purely aqueous conditions to media of increasing organic solvent content, frequently with the effect of producing magnified differences and selectivity reversals between one ion and another. The results are discussed in terms of the relationship between K(H)(M) and the reciprocal of the dielectric constant of the medium and also in the light of free energies of transfer of cations between methanol-water systems. The effect of phenol giving a lowering of K(H)(Cs) in methanol-water, of K(H)(K) and K(H)(Na) in ethanol-water and of K(H)(Na) and K(H)(L1) in acetone-water systems cannot be fully reconciled with the mechanism involving bonding proposed by earlier workers.     

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.     

Transfer of actinide ion at the interface between aqueous and nitrobenzene solutions studied by controlled-potential electrolysis at the interface

A novel electrochemical method based on controlled-potential electrolysis has been developed for the elucidation of the ion transfer at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES). A relationship between the applied interfacial potential (E_app) and the amount of the ion transferred (A_tr) was investigated after an electrolytic equilibrium was attained by controlled-potential electrolysis. The A_tr was determined chemically or radiometrically instead of by current measurement. It was found that (i) controlled-potential electrolysis was applicable to the study of the transfer of such hydrophilic ions as transition metal ions which gave no appreciable current within the potential window in voltammetry or polarography at ITIES, (ii) controlled-potential electrolysis in combination with a sensitive analytical method enabled a study of the transfer reaction of an ion of very dilute concentration, and (iii) even when the transfer reaction of an ion was irreversible or quasi-reversible, a standard ion transfer potential could be determined by controlled-potential electrolysis without using a kinetic parameter. The controlled-potential electrolysis method developed was applied to the transfer reactions of actinide ions such as UO₂ ²⁺ and Am³⁺ from aqueous solution to nitrobenzene solution in the absence or presence of an ionophore facilitating the transfer. The Gibbs energy for the transfer of actinide ion and a stability constant of the complex between an actinide ion and the ionophore in nitrobenzene solution were determined from log D versus E_app plots (D the ratio of the concentration of the ion in nitrobenzene solution to that in aqueous solution). The feasibility of controlled-potential electrolysis as a method for electrolytic separation of actinide ions is discussed.