Functionalization of gold and carbon nanostructured materials using gamma-ray irradiation

Gold nanoparticles were successfully attached to the surface sites of carbon nanotubes (CNT). Both nanostructured materials were functionalized by λ-ray irradiation without chemical treatments for creating active sites. UV–visible absorption spectra of the un-irradiated and gamma ray-irradiated nanomaterials are also studied. The absorption spectrum of the irradiated CNT shows a new strong peak located at 700 nm, which might act as the active site on the surface of CNT, the result being an attachment of gold nanoparticles. This approach provides an efficient method to attach other nanostructures to carbon nanotubes for using them in different applications such as medicine and synthesis of catalytic materials.     

pharmaceutical and biological samples using modified multiwall carbon nanotubes paste electrode

A carbon paste electrode(CPE) chemically modified with multiwall carbon nanotubes and ferrocene(FC) was used as a selective electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous determination of trace amounts of cysteamine(CA) and folic acid(FA).This modified electrode showed very efficient electrocatalytic activity for the anodic oxidation of CA.The peak current of differential pulse voltammograms of CA and FA increased linearly with their concentration in the ranges of 0.7-200μmol/L CA and 5.0- 700μmol/L FA.The detection limits for CA and FA were 0.3μmol/L and 2.0μmoI/L,respectively.The diffusion coefficient(D) and transfer coefficient(α) of CA were also determined.These conditions are sufficient to allow determination of CA and FA both individually and simultaneously.     

Determination of Se(IV) by anodic stripping voltammetry using gold electrodes made from recordable CDs

This work presents a simple, reproducible and low cost method, employing differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry, for determination of selenium(IV). A gold electrode obtained from recordable compact disks (CD-R) was used to evaluate the voltammetric behavior of the metallic ion in 0.1 mol L⁻¹ HClO₄. To evaluate the voltammetric behavior of Se(IV), parameters such as deposition potential and deposition time were optimized. A wide linear response range, from 0.5 to 291 ng mL⁻¹, was obtained using a 5.0 mm diameter gold electrode. Recovery tests for Se(IV) utilizing standard reference solutions provided values between 94 and 96%.     

Copper-enhanced gold nanoparticle tags for electrochemical stripping detection of human IgG

We demonstrate herein a novel electrochemical protocol for quantification of human IgG based on the precipitation of copper on gold nanoparticle tags and a subsequent electrochemical stripping detection of the dissolved copper. The immunoassay was conducted by following the typical procedure for sandwich-type immunoreaction. Goat anti-human IgG was immobilized on the wells of microtiter plates. The human IgG analyte was first captured by the primary antibody and then sandwiched by secondary antibody labeled with gold nanoparticles. The copper enhancer solution was then added to deposite copper on the gold nanoparticle tags. After dissolved with HNO₃, the released copper ions were then quantified by ASV. The detection limit is 0.5 ng/mL by 3σ-rule. In order to investigate the feasibility of the newly developed technique to be applied for clinical analysis, several standard human IgG serum specimens were also examined by the method. To our knowledge, the copper enhancing procedure is the first time to be developed for immunoassay. The new strategy of using copper-enhanced gold nanoparticle tags for electrochemical stripping detection holds great promise for immunoassay and DNA detection.     

Sensitive voltammetric determination of chloramphenicol by using single-wall carbon nanotube-gold nanoparticle-ionic liquid composite film modified glassy carbon electrodes

A novel composite film modified glassy carbon electrode has been fabricated and characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and voltammetry. The composite film comprises of single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT), gold nanoparticle (GNP) and ionic liquid (i.e. 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate), thus has the characteristics of them. The resulting electrode shows good stability, high accumulation efficiency and strong promotion to electron transfer. On it, chloramphenicol can produce a sensitive cathodic peak at −0.66 V (versus SCE) in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solutions. Parameters influencing the voltammetric response of chloramphenicol are optimized, which include the composition of the film and the operation conditions. Under the optimized conditions, the peak current is linear to chloramphenicol concentration in the range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁸-6.0 × 10⁻⁶ M, and the detection limit is estimated to be 5.0 × 10⁻⁹ M after an accumulation for 150 s on open circuit. The electrode is applied to the determination of chloramphenicol in milk samples, and the recoveries for the standards added are 97.0% and 100.3%. In addition, the electrochemical reaction of chloramphenicol and the effect of single-wall carbon nanotube, gold nanoparticle and ionic liquid are discussed.     

Anodic stripping voltammetry of antimony using gold nanoparticle-modified carbon screen-printed electrodes

Carbon screen-printed electrodes (CSPE) modified with gold nanoparticles present an interesting alternative in the determination of antimony using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. Metallic gold nanoparticles deposits have been obtained by direct electrochemical deposition. Scanning electron microscopy measurements show that the electrochemically synthesized gold nanoparticles are deposited in aggregated form. Any undue effects caused by the presence of foreign ions in the solution were also analyzed to ensure that common interferents in the determination of antimony by ASV. The detection limit for Sb(III) obtained was 9.44 × 10⁻¹⁰ M. In terms of reproducibility, the precision of the above mentioned method in %R.S.D. values was calculated at 2.69% (n = 10). The method was applied to determine levels of antimony in seawater samples and pharmaceutical preparations.     

Determination of trace amount of bismuth(III) by adsorptive anodic stripping voltammetry at carbon paste electrode

A sensitive method is described for the determination of trace bismuth based on the bismuth-bromopyrogallol red (BPR) adsorption at a carbon paste electrode (CPE). The overall analysis involved a three-step procedure: accumulation, reduction, and anodic stripping. Optimal conditions were found to be an electrode containing 25% paraffin oil and 75% high purity graphite powder, a 0.30 mol l⁻¹ HCl solution containing 2.0×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ BPR as supporting medium; accumulation potential and time, −0.10 V, 3 min; reduction potential and time, −0.35 V, 60 s; scan rate 100 mV s⁻¹; scan range from −0.35 to 0.15 V. It was found that the Bi(III)-BPR complex could be accumulated on the electrode surface during the accumulation period. Then the Bi(III) in the Bi(III)-BPR complex on the CPE surface was reduced to Bi(0) during reduction interval and finally reoxidized during the anodic stripping step for voltammetric quantification. Factors affecting the accumulation, reduction, and stripping steps were investigated. Interferences by other ions were studied as well. The detection limit was found to be 5×10⁻¹⁰ mol l⁻¹ with a 3 min accumulation time. The linear range was from 1.0×10⁻⁹ to 5.0×10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹. Application of the procedure to the determination of bismuth in water and human hair samples gave good results.     

Determination of arsenic in gold samples using matrix exchange differential pulse stripping voltammetry

A method comprising matrix exchange differential pulse stripping voltammetry (DPSV) at a gold film electrode has been proposed for the determination of small quantities of arsenic in pure gold. A wall-jet cell (WJC) and an on-line deoxygenation system were used to facilitate matrix exchange. The gold(I) cyanide complex was formed to avoid gold deposition on the electrode together with the arsenic. The pH of the sample solutions were adjusted to 3, as alkaline solutions gold(I) cyanide produced interference and the uncomplexed cyanide led to passivation of the gold film electrode. Matrix exchange electrolytes consisting of 4 mol l⁻¹ hydrochloric acid or a combination of 2 mol l⁻¹ sulphuric acid and 0.2 mol l⁻¹ hydrochloric acid could be utilised. Arsenic concentrations as low as 0.1 mg l⁻¹, could readily be detected in a gold matrix with a 60 s deposition time. While, cobalt and silver did not interfere with the arsenic determination, copper interfered even when present at similar concentrations to that of arsenic.     

Determination of captopril in patient human urine using ferrocenemonocarboxylic acid modified carbon nanotubes paste electrode

<正>In this work,we describe a new strategy for the electrochemical determination of captopril(CA) using ferrocenemonocarboxylic acid as a mediator and multiwall carbon nanotubes as sensors in aqueous solution at pH 7.0.The diffusion coefficient(D),and the kinetic parameters such as electron transfer coefficient(α).and heterogeneous rate constant(k_h),for CA were also determined using electrochemical approaches.Under the optimized conditions,the electrocatalytic oxidation peak current of captopril showed two linear dynamic ranges with a detection limit of 0.3×10~(-6) mol L~(-1) captopril.The linear calibration range was 0.8×10~(-6) to 65×10~(-6) mol L~(-1) using cyclic voltammetry.Finally,this modified electrode was also examined as a selective,simple and precise new electrochemical sensor for the determination of captopril in real samples such as drug and patient human urine.     

Determination of trace heavy metals in herbs by sequential injection analysis-anodic stripping voltammetry using screen-printed carbon nanotubes electrodes

A method for the simultaneous determination of Pb(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) at low μg L⁻¹ concentration levels by sequential injection analysis-anodic stripping voltammetry (SIA-ASV) using screen-printed carbon nanotubes electrodes (SPCNTE) was developed. A bismuth film was prepared by in situ plating of bismuth on the screen-printed carbon nanotubes electrode. Operational parameters such as ratio of carbon nanotubes to carbon ink, bismuth concentration, deposition time and flow rate during preconcentration step were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the linear ranges were found to be 2-100 μg L⁻¹ for Pb(II) and Cd(II), and 12-100 μg L⁻¹ for Zn(II). The limits of detection (S_bl/S = 3) were 0.2 μg L⁻¹ for Pb(II), 0.8 μg L⁻¹ for Cd(II) and 11 μg L⁻¹ for Zn(II). The measurement frequency was found to be 10-15 stripping cycle h⁻¹. The present method offers high sensitivity and high throughput for on-line monitoring of trace heavy metals. The practical utility of our method was also demonstrated with the determination of Pb(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) by spiking procedure in herb samples. Our methodology produced results that were correlated with ICP-AES data. Therefore, we propose a method that can be used for the automatic and sensitive evaluation of heavy metals contaminated in herb items.     

Dual-signal anodic stripping voltammetric determination of trace arsenic(III) at a glassy carbon electrode modified with internal-electrolysis deposited gold nanoparticles

A glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with internal-electrolysis deposited gold nanoparticles (AuNPs_ied) was applied to sensitively and selectively detect As(III) by anodic stripping linear sweep voltammetry (ASLSV). The AuNPs_ied/GCE was prepared based on the redox replacement reaction between a supporting-electrolyte-free aqueous HAuCl₄ and a copper sheet in saturated KCl separated by a salt bridge. Under optimum conditions (0.5 M aqueous H₂SO₄, 300-s preconcentration at − 0.4 V), the ASLSV peak current for the As(0)–As(III) oxidation responded linearly to As(III) concentration from 0.02 to 3 μM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.9 nM (0.07 μg L^− 1) (S/N = 3), while that for the As(III)–As(V) oxidation was linear with As(III) concentration from 0.02 to 1 μM with a LOD of 4 nM (0.3 μg L^− 1) (S/N = 3). An appropriate high-scan-rate for ASLSV can enhance both the sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio. This method was applied for analyses of As(III) in real water samples.     

A comparative study on properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified with acids and oxyfluorination

In this study, the surface modification of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with acid and oxyfluorination has been examined. Acid treatment of multi-walled CNTs produces many functionalized groups on the surface of MWCNTs, such as C-N stretching and the asymmetric carboxylate group (-COO-). It can be concluded that nitrogen doping of the graphite sheets may take place and a C-N bond identical to the sp³-bonded carbon nitride may form during the acid treatment process. In addition, oxyfluorinated MWCNTs exhibit higher BET specific surface area and mesopore volume than those of the as-received and acid treated MWCNTs. Therefore, acid and oxyfluorination treatments are more effective methods for enhancing the chemical and textural properties of MWCNTs.     

Size effect of gold nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotube as catalysts in selected organic reactions

Carbon nanotube-supported gold nanoparticles of different sizes (diameter of 3 or 20 nm) were evaluated as catalysts in four selected organic transformations. The nanohybrids were shown to efficiently catalyze the investigated reactions, regardless of the size of the supported gold nanoparticles. However, some differences were observed as regards turnover frequency values although size effect turned out to be less significant when only gold surface atoms were considered.     

Mercury-free simultaneous determination of cadmium and lead at a glassy carbon electrode modified with multi-wall carbon nanotubes

A multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWNT) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was described for the simultaneous determination of trace levels of cadmium and lead by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). In pH 4.5 NaAc-HAc buffer containing 0.02 mol/l KI, Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ first adsorb onto the surface of a MWNT film coated GCE and then reduce at −1.20 V. During the positive potential sweep, reduced cadmium and lead were oxidized, and two well-defined stripping peaks appeared at −0.88 and −0.62 V. Compared with a bare GCE, a MWNT film coated GCE greatly improves the sensitivity of determining cadmium and lead. Low concentration of I⁻ significantly enhances the stripping peak currents since it induces Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ to adsorb at the electrode surface. The striping peak currents change linearly with the concentration of Cd²⁺ from 2.5×10⁻⁸ to 1×10⁻⁵ mol/l and with that of Pb²⁺ from 2×10⁻⁸ to 1×10⁻⁵ mol/l. The lowest detectable concentrations of Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ are estimated to be 6×10⁻⁹ and 4×10⁻⁹ mol/l, respectively. The high sensitivity, selectivity, and stability of this MWNT film coated electrode demonstrated its practical application for a simple, rapid and economical determination of trace levels of Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ in water samples.     

Anodic stripping voltammetry of silver(I) using a carbon paste electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

We describe a silver(I)-selective carbon paste electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and a silver-chelating Schiff base, and its electrochemical response to Ag(I). Effects of reduction potential and time, accumulation time, pH of the solution and the stripping medium were studied by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry and optimized. The findings resulted in a method for the determination of silver over a linear response range (from 0.5 to 235 ng?mL^?1) and with a detection limit as low as 0.08 ng?mL^?1. The sensor displays good repeatability (with the RSD of ±?2.75 % for 7 replicates) and was applied to the determination of Ag(I) in water samples and X-ray photographic films.

Sensitive voltammetric determination of xanthinol nicotinate at a carbon nanotubes-ionic liquid gel modified electrode

The electrochemistry of xanthinol nicotinate(Xan) was studied by cyclic voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode modified by a gel containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWNTs) and room-temperature ionic liquid of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate(BMTMPF_6).The modified electrode exhibited good promotion to the electrochemical oxidation of Xan and an ultrasensitive electrochemical method was proposed for the determination of Xan.This method was successfully applied to the determination of...     

Determination of trace arsenic(III) by differential-pulse anodic stripping voltammetry with in-situ plated bismuth-film electrode

Abstract

A systematic survey of the quality status of the main aquifers in rural areas of Catalonia (Spain) regarding pesticide pollution has been carried out. A total number of 139 wells, distributed among 13 different hydrogeological units have been sampled and analyzed by GC-MS and GC-ECD, during the period 1997—98. Pesticides monitored were selected among triazine herbicides, organochlorine and organophosphorus insecticides. A positive presence of pesticides has been detected in 84.2% of the samples analyzed, 23.7% of them exceeding the requirements of the EU drinking water Directive (98/83/CE). Organochlorine insecticides were present in 62.6% of the samples, triazines in 49% and organophosphorus insecticides in 28.8%. The results obtained have been interpreted by Principal Component Analysis.     

Determination of ametryn in soils via microwave-assisted solvent extraction coupled to anodic stripping voltammetry with a gold ultramicroelectrode

An extraction-anodic adsorptive stripping voltammetric procedure using microwave-assisted solvent extraction and a gold ultramicroelectrode was developed for determining the pesticide ametryn in soil samples. The method is based on the use of acetonitrile as extraction solvent and on controlled adsorptive accumulation of the herbicide at the potential of 0.50 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in the presence of Britton-Robinson buffer (pH 3.3). Soil sample extracts were analysed directly after drying and redissolution with the supporting electrolyte but without other pre-treatment. The limit of detection obtained for a 10 s collection time was 0.021 g g^–1. Recovery experiments for the global procedure, at the 0.500 g g^–1 level, gave satisfactory mean and standard deviation results which were comparable to those obtained by HPLC with UV detection.     

Sensitive detection of endocrine disrupters using ionic liquid--single walled carbon nanotubes modified screen-printed based biosensors

Simple and low cost biosensor based on screen-printed electrode for sensitive detection of some alkylphenols was developed, by entrapment of HRP in a nanocomposite gel based on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF₆]) ionic liquid. Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, CV and EIS studies demonstrate the interaction between SWCNTs and ionic liquid. The nanocomposite gel, SWCNT-[BMIM][PF₆] provides to the modified sensor a considerable enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward hydrogen peroxide reduction. The HRP based biosensor exhibits high sensitivity and good stability, allowing a detection of the alkylphenols at an applied potential of −0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl, in linear range from 5.5 to 97.7 μM for 4-t-octylphenol and respectively, between 5.5 and 140 μM for 4-n-nonylphenol, with a response time of about 5 s. The detection limit was 1.1 μM for 4-t-octylphenol, and respectively 0.4 μM for 4-n-nonylphenol (S/N = 3).     

Adsorption voltammetry of the zirconium-alizarin red S complex at a multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified carbon paste electrode

We used a carbon paste electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes as a working electrode and studied the electrochemical behavior of zirconium-alizarin red S complex on it. It was found that the modified electrode exhibited a significant catalytic effect toward the reduction of free alizarin red S and the complex. The second derivative linear scan voltammograms of the complex were recorded by a polarographic analyser from 0 to −1000 mV (vs. SCE), and it was found that the complex can be adsorbed on the surface of the modified electrode, yielding a peak at about −470 mV, corresponding to the reduction of alizarin red S in the complex. The linear range was found to be 2.0 × 10⁻¹¹–8.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹, and the detection limit was 1.0 × 10⁻¹¹ mol L⁻¹ (S/N = 3) for 3 min accumulation. The procedure was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of zirconium in the ore samples. Correspondence: Pei-Hong Deng, Department of Chemistry and Material Science, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang Hunan 421008, P.R. China