Imaging Local Proton Fluxes through a Polycarbonate Membrane by Using Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy and Functionalized Alkanethiols

A new application of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) to probe the transport of protons through membranes is described. Herein, a probe ultramicroelectrode (UME) is modified with a self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) of 11‐mercaptoundecanoic acid to qualitatively image areas within different pH regions above a track‐etched membrane. The current response of the modified electrode in the presence of potassium hexacyanoferrate as electroactive component is different in acidic and alkaline solutions. Depending on the pH value of the solution, the SAM‐covered electrode exposes either a neutral or a negatively charged insulating monolayer at pH 3 or 7, respectively, which leads to an increase/decrease in the faradaic current due to electrostatic interactions between the neutral/charged surface and the charged redox mediator. Therefore, local pH changes in the close vicinity of a membrane‐like substrate lead to different current responses recorded at the tip electrode when scanning above the surface.     

Local Modulation of the Redox State of p‐Nitrothiophenol Self‐Assembled Monolayers Using the Direct Mode of Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy

Local redox conversion of nitro end groups of a 4‐nitrothiophenol self‐assembled monolayer on gold is achieved by direct‐mode scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Potential pulses are applied to the modified gold surface leading to local reduction of nitro end groups to either hydroxylamine (?0.47 V, see picture) or amino groups (?0.6 V) exclusively beneath the positioned SECM tip.

     

Investigation on Concentrated Ⅴ（Ⅳ）/Ⅴ（Ⅴ） Redox Reaction by Rotating Disc Voltammetry

The kinetic characteristics of the concentrated Ⅴ（Ⅳ）/Ⅴ（Ⅴ） couple have been studied at a glassy carbon electrode in sulfuric acid using rotating-disc electrode and cyclic voltammetry. The kinetics of the Ⅴ（Ⅳ）/Ⅴ（Ⅴ） redox couple reaction was found to be electrochemically quasi-reversible with the slower kinetics for the Ⅴ（Ⅴ） reduction than that for the Ⅴ（Ⅳ） oxidation. And, dependence of diffusion coefficients and kinetic parameters of Ⅴ（Ⅳ） species on the Ⅴ（Ⅳ） and H2SO4 concentration was investigated. It is shown that the concentration of active species Ⅴ（Ⅳ） should be over 1 mol·L^-1 for the redox flow battery application. Further, with increasing the Ⅴ（Ⅳ） and H2SO4 concentration, the diffusion coefficients of Ⅴ（Ⅳ） were gradually reduced whereas its kinetics was improved considerably, especially in the case of Ⅴ（Ⅳ） and H2SO4 up to 2 and 4 mol·L^-1.     

Non‐destructive Patterning of Carbon Electrodes by Using the Direct Mode of Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy

Patterning of glassy carbon surfaces grafted with a layer of nitrophenyl moieties was achieved by using the direct mode of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) to locally reduce the nitro groups to hydroxylamine and amino functionalities. SECM and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that potentiostatic pulses applied to the working electrode lead to local destruction of the glassy carbon surface, most likely caused by etchants generated at the positioned SECM tip used as the counter electrode. By applying galvanostatic pulses, and thus, limiting the current during structuring, corrosion of the carbon surface was substantially suppressed. After galvanostatic patterning, unambiguous proof of the formation of the anticipated amino moieties was possible by modulation of the pH value during the feedback mode of SECM imaging. This patterning strategy is suitable for the further bio‐modification of microstructured surfaces. Alkaline phosphatase, as a model enzyme, was locally bound to the modified areas, thus showing that the technique can be used for the development of protein microarrays.     

V(IV)在不同电极上氧化还原动力学研究

分别以导电塑料集流板、石墨棒、铂片作工作电极,应用循环伏安法和稳态极化法研究V(IV)的阳极氧化动力学过程,计算V(IV)在不同材料电极上的反应动力学参数.结果表明,以导电塑料板作电极,硫酸氧钒有较宽的水稳定区,且析氧电位较高;在石墨电极上,V(V)/V(IV)的交换电流密度较大,表现出较好的可逆性;而在铂电极上,硫酸氧钒更易析氢.     

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Functionalized by Hyperbranched Poly(urea‐urethane)s by a One‐Pot Polycondensation

Summary: Hyperbranched poly(urea‐urethane)‐functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT‐HPUs) have been synthesized by a one‐pot polycondensation of tolylene 2,4‐diisocyanate and diethanolamine in the presence of MWNTs terminated with multiple hydroxy groups. FT‐IR, Raman, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectra reveal that the HPU trees are covalently grafted onto the MWNT surfaces. After a high density of HPU trees (83.5 wt.‐%) is attached to the MWNTs, core‐shell nanostructures with MWNTs as the core and the HPU trees as the shell are formed. A loose and uniform nanotube network can be observed by TEM, SEM, and AFM. The resulting MWNT‐HPUs are soluble in polar solvents such as dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamine, 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, and dimethyl sulfoxide.

Hyperbranched poly(urea‐urethane)s functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes.     

Thin‐Layer Cyclic Voltammetric and Scanning Electrochemical Microscopic Study of Antioxidant Activity of Ascorbic Acid at Liquid/Liquid Interface

An electron transfer reaction between ascorbic acid (H₂A) in an aqueous solution and oxidizing agent in an organic solution immiscible with water has been studied by thin‐layer cyclic voltammetry (TLCV) for charge transfer at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES). As an antioxidant, H₂A provide electrons through the aqueous/organic interface to reduce Fc⁺ and the procedure has been proved to be a one electron process again. In this work, the first combination of TLCV and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was achieved and showed a reasonable agreement between the results from the two different approaches. Otherwise, lower concentration ratios Kr of aqueous to organic reactants was adopted, which is given as evidence to the proposed procedure of Barker.     

Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes Covalently Functionalized with Polylysine: Synthesis,Characterization and Analytical Applications for the Development of Electrochemical (Bio)Sensors

This work reports the synthesis of single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) covalently functionalized with polylysine (Plys) and the analytical performance of glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) modified with this material (GCE/SWCNT‐Plys). The resulting electrodes showed an important decrease in the overvoltages for the oxidation of ascorbic acid, uric acid and hydrogen peroxide as well as for the reduction of hydrogen peroxide. The favorable interaction of glucose oxidase (GOx) with SWCNT‐Plys allowed the sensitive and selective glucose biosensing at ?0.100 V without any permselective membrane. The proposed sensor was challenged with different real samples without pretreatment showing an excellent correlation with the reported values.     

The Study on the Self-assembled Monolayer （SAMs） of Porphyrin with Different Chain Length by Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy （SECM）

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have become a subject of intense interest in materials science and molecular technologies, because they provided highly ordered structures on the surfaces. SAMs, comprising hydrocarbons bound to the gold surface via a S-Au…     

Electrochemical Sensor for the Quantification of Dopamine Using Glassy Carbon Electrodes Modified with Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes Covalently Functionalized with Polylysine

We report a dopamine electrochemical sensor based on the modification of glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) with polylysine‐functionalized single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT‐PLys). The resulting electrodes (GCE/SWCNT‐PLys) showed a significant improvement in the electrooxidation of dopamine with drastic decrease in the peak potentials separation and important enhancement in the associated currents. Dopamine was detected by differential pulse voltammetry‐adsorptive stripping with medium exchange at nanomolar levels even in the presence of high excess of ascorbic and uric acids. The sensor was successfully used for the quantification of dopamine in urine samples enriched with the neurotransmitter.     

全钒液流电池高浓度下V(IV)/V(V)的电极过程研究

采用循环伏安、低速线性扫描和阻抗技术, 以石墨为电极, 研究了V(IV)/V(V)在较高浓度下的电极过程. 结果表明, 采用2.0 mol•L-1 的V(IV)溶液时, H2SO4浓度低于2 mol•L-1, V(IV)/V(V)反应极化大, 可逆性差, 表现为电化学和扩散混合控制; H2SO4浓度增至2 mol•L-1以上, V(IV)/V(V)反应的可逆性提高, 转为扩散控制, 且增加H2SO4浓度有利于阻抗的降低; 但H2SO4浓度超过3 mol•L-1, 溶液的粘度和传质阻力大, 阻抗反而增大. 在3 mol•L-1的H2SO4中, 随着V(IV)浓度的增加, 体系的可逆性和动力学改善, 阻抗减小; 但V(IV)浓度超过2.0 mol•L-1, 较高的溶液粘度导致溶液的传质阻力迅速增加, V(IV)/ V(V)的电化学性能衰减, 阻抗增大. 因此, 综合考虑电极反应动力学和电池的能量密度两因素, V(IV)溶液的最佳浓度为1.5～2.0 mol•L-1, H2SO4浓度为3 mol•L-1.     

A Mechanochemical Approach to Nanocomposites Using Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes and Poly(L‐lysine)

A simple method to fabricate polymer nanocomposites with single‐walled carbon nanotubes is reported, in which the nanotubes were reacted with poly(L ‐lysine) by using high‐speed vibration milling. The nanocomposites obtained were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), UV–Vis spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric methods. The morphology as well as the dispersion of the carbon nanotubes were determined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy.

     

Effect of Ionic Liquid Structure on the Electrochemical Response of Dopamine at Room Temperature Ionic Liquid‐modified Carbon Paste Electrodes (IL–CPE)

In this work 12 different ionic liquids (ILs) have been used added as co‐binders in the preparation of modified carbon paste electrodes (IL–CPEs) used for the voltammetric analysis of dopamine in Britton‐Robinson buffer. The ionic liquids studied were selected based on three main criteria: (1) increasing chain length of alkyl substituents (studying 1‐ethylimidazolium and ethyl, propyl, butyl, hexyl and decylmethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquids); (2) nature of the counter ion (dicyanamide, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide and hexafluorophosphate) in 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium ionic liquids; and (3) cation ring structures (1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium, 1‐butyl‐1‐methylpiperidinium, 1‐butyl‐1‐methylpyrrolidinium and 1‐butyl‐3‐methylpyridinium) in bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide or hexafluorophosphate (1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium or 1‐butyl‐3‐methylpyridinium as cations) ionic liquids. The use of IL as co‐binders in IL–CPE results in a general enhancement of both the sensitivity and the reversibility of dopamine oxidation. In square wave voltammetry experiments, the peak current increased up to a 400 % when 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide was used as co‐binder, as compared to the response found with the unmodified CPE. Experimental data provide evidence that electrostatic and steric effects are the most important ones vis‐à‐vis these electrocatalytic effects on the anodic oxidation of dopamine on IL–CPE. The relative hydrophilicity of dicyanamide anions reduced the electrocatalytic effects of the corresponding ionic liquids, while the use of 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate or 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (two relatively small and highly hydrophobic ionic liquids) as co‐binders in IL–CPE resulted in the highest electrocatalytic activity among all of the IL–CPE studied.     

A Label‐Free Electrochemical Aptasensor for Thrombin Using a Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotube (SWCNT) Casted Glassy Carbon Electrode (GCE)

An electrochemical aptasensor with a thrombin binding aptamer (TBA) was developed using a single‐wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) casted GCE. The TBA was immobilized on SWCNTs through π‐stacking without any special modification, resulting in helical wrapping to the surface. In the presence of thrombin, the TBA binds with thrombin and the TBA concentration on the SWCNT surface decreases. The remaining amount of TBA can be analyzed by an electrochemical method without any label, because the guanine bases of the nucleic acid are measurable by electrochemical methods. The electrochemical oxidation of guanine nucleotides was enhanced by electrocatalytic mediation using Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ for higher sensitivity and reduction of the overpotential for electrochemical detection.     

[11]Anthrahelicene on InSb(001) c(8×2): A Low‐Temperature Scanning Probe Microscopy Study

The adsorption of individual [11]anthrahelicene molecules and their self‐assembly into monolayer islands on an InSb(001) c(8×2) reconstructed surface is studied with low‐temperature scanning probe microscopy. A racemic mixture is deposited on atomically flat terraces of InSb at room temperature. At lower coverage, the molecules tend to decorate atomic step edges of the substrate. At higher coverage, [11]anthrahelicene molecules form 2D islands. A quasi‐hexagonal ordering of molecules within the layer is identified. Furthermore, it is shown that molecules adsorb with the helical axis almost perpendicular to the substrate. Interference between tunneling through the molecular layer and directly through space is reported. Finally, experimental results are compared to those of theoretical calculations.     

Electrochemical Sensor for Sensitive Determination of Ga(III) Ion Based on β‐Cyclodextrin Incorporated Multi‐walled Carbon Nanotubes and Imprinted Sol‐gel Composite Film

A novel sensor for detection of trace gallium ion [Ga(III)] was created by stepwise modification of a gold electrode with β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD)/multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and an ion imprinted polymer (IIP). The sensor surface morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical performance of the imprinted sensor was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The sensor displayed excellent selectivity towards the target Ga(III) ion. Meanwhile, the introduced MWCNTs displayed noticeable catalytic activity, and β‐CD demonstrated significant enrichment capacity. A linear calibration curve was obtained covering the concentration range from 5.0×10^?8 to 1.0×10^?4 mol·L^?1, with a detection limit of 7.6×10^?9 mol·L^?1. The proposed sensor was successfully applied to detect Ga(III) in real urine samples.