Electrochemical studies of cytochrome c on gold electrodes with promotor of humic acid and 4-aminothiophenol

p-Aminothiophenol (PATP) and humic acids (HA or HAs) were applied jointly as the electron transfer accelerants of redox reactions of cytochrome c (Cyt c) on gold electrodes. The electrochemical properties of the modified electrodes were studied by field emission scanning electron microscope, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The immobilized Cyt c displayed a couple of stable and well-defined redox peaks with a formal potential of −0.101 V (vs. SCE) in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution. Cyt c adsorption is in the form of a monolayer with average surface coverage of 5.28 pmol cm⁻². The electron transfer rate constant was calculated to be 2.14 s⁻¹. It indicate that the HA film acted as a good adsorption matrix for Cyt c and an excellent accelerant for the redox of Cyt c. The Cyt c-HA modified gold electrode showed a new couple of well-marked redox peaks when 2,4-dichlorophenol was added to the test solution.     

Dynamics of adiabatic electron transfer reactions at metal electrodes

We have investigated the dynamics of adiabatic electron transfer reactions at metal electrodes using a Hamiltonian suggested by Schmickler (J. Electroanal. Chem., 204 (1986) 31). We show that in the adiabatic limit the problem reduces to that of dynamics of a single variable, the shift of the ionic orbital caused by its interaction with the solvent. This variable is identified as the reaction co-ordinate for the problem and we show that in certain limits, it obeys a non-linear Volterra type integral equation, with a stochastic inhomogeneous term. For an inhomogenous term with the autocorrelation function decaying exponentially, this may be converted into a differential equation for Brownian motion. This equation can be analysed to obtain the rate, through the associated Fokker-Planck equation. The rate so obtained, has a correction to the pre-exponential factor obtained by Schmickler. A possible extension to inner sphere reactions is also discussed.     

Electron transfer and paramagnetic products of reactions of haloquinones with aliphatic amines

The reactions of chloranil (Cl₄Q) and bromanil (Br₄Q) with aliphatic amines in a DMF : H₂O (5 : 1, vol/vol) mixture were studied. The radical anions of 2,5-didimethylamino-3,6-chloro-p-benzoquinone and 2,5-didimethylamino-3,6-bromo-p-benzoquinone were identified by ESR spectra. The reaction rate constant of the replacement of two chlorine atoms by the amino groups in the radical anion of Cl₄Q at 288 K was estimated.     

Electrocatalysis of redox reactions by metal nanoparticles on graphite electrodes

A selection of graphitic materials of both scientific as well as commercial importance has been modified by deposition of various metals at very low coverages under overpotential or underpotential conditions. Nanoparticles were found with some metals. The changes in the electrocatalytic activity of the supporting electrode by the metal modification were studied using electrochemical impedance measurements of a fast redox system. The carbon/solution interface was characterized with surface Raman spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance measurements, and cyclic voltammetry. Electronic Publication     

Electron transfer mechanism in olefin polymerization

Polymerization of olefins mediated by transition metal derivatives (Ziegler–Natta polymerization) is one of the most scientifically and industrially important processes of molecular conversion. Electron transfer mechanism could play a significant role in both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts. The catalytic activity strongly depends on the presence of two metallocene ligands attached to the transition metal (more commonly zirconium) which grants the valence form of zirconium in complexes of the type Cp₂ZrX₂(X=Cl or CH₃) followed by the formation of the (Cp₂ZrX)⁺ cation under the effect of a Lewis acid. On the other hand, Ti complexes with only one metallocene ligand give the syndiospecific polymerization of styrene, where the phenyl group appears to act as electron donor for the transition metal. The remarkable electronic effect of the metallocene groups in determining catalytic activity is demonstrated by the study of substituted metallocene ligands as well as other ligands around the metal. These effects cannot be, however, completely separated from steric effects which seem to be responsible for the impressive and versatile stereochemical control determined by symmetry properties of the transition metal complex.     

Electron transfer between cytochrome c and metalloporphyrins at high exothermicities

The electron-transfer rates between cytochrome c and the anion radical of two metalloporphyrins ZnTPPS and ZnTPPC (ΔE for the reaction is 1.42eV) have been measured by laser flash spectroscopy. The anion radicals were produced by reaction of the porphyrins with hydrated electrons which resulted from the photoionization of ferrocyanide ions. Together with results obtained previously, a reorganization energy of ≈ 1.1 eV was deduced for the cytochrome c-porphyrin system.     

Electron transfer dynamics of cytochrome c bound to self-assembled monolayers on silver electrodes.

Cytochrome c (Cyt-c) was electrostatically immobilised on Ag electrodes coated with self-assembled monolayers (SAM) that are formed by omega-carboxyl alkanethiols with different alkyl chain lengths (C(x)). Surface enhanced resonance Raman (SERR) spectroscopy demonstrated that electrostatic binding does not lead to conformational changes of the heme protein under the conditions of the present experiments. Employing time-resolved SERR spectroscopy, the rate constants of the heterogeneous electron transfer (ET) between the adsorbed Cyt-c and the Ag electrode were determined for a driving force of zero electronvolts. For SAMs with long alkyl chains (C(16), C(11)), the rate constants display a normal exponential distance dependence, whereas for shorter chain lengths (C(6), C(3), C(3)), the ET rate constant approaches a constant value (ca. 130 s(-1)). The onset of the non-exponential distance-dependence is paralleled by an increasing kinetic H/D effect, indicating a coupling of the redox reaction with proton transfer (PT) steps. This unusual kinetic behaviour is attributed to the effect of the electric field at the Ag/SAM interface that increasingly raises the energy barrier for the PT processes with decreasing distance of the adsorbed Cyt-c from the electrode. The distance-dependence of the electric field strength is estimated on the basis of a simple electrostatic model that can consistently describe the redox potential shifts of Cyt-c as determined by stationary SERR spectroscopy for the various SAMs. At low electric fields, PT is sufficiently fast so that rate constants, determined as a function of the driving force, yield the reorganisation energy (0.217 electronvolts) of the heterogeneous ET.     

Electron transfer in the photochemical reactions of phenothiazine with halomethanes

Photochemical transformations of phenothiazine (PTA) in solutions of halomethanes CH_nX_4–n (X = Cl, Br; n = 0, 1, 2) and in n-hexane—CH_nX_4–n mixtures under the irradiation with = 337 and 365 nm were studied. The rate constants of quenching of PTA fluorescence with halomethanes (k _q) are 4·10⁵—1.3·10¹⁰ L mol^–1 s^–1. The process occurs due to electron transfer with the C—X bond cleavage in the radical anion fragment of the primary radical ion pair. This results in the formation of the stable radical cation salt (PTA^·+X^–). The plot of k _q vs. free energy of electron transfer corresponds to the Rehm—Weller empirical equation for a one-electron process and is satisfactorily described in terms of the theory of nonradiative electron transitions in the approximation of one quantum vibration.     

Electron transfer of horse spleen ferritin at gold electrodes modified by self-assembled monolayers

Electron transfer is known to be an important step in the sequestering of iron by cellular ferritin. In this work, direct electron transfer between ferritin and a gold electrode was performed in order to probe its electron transfer kinetics. Gold electrodes were modified by the formation of self-assembled monolayers of 3-mercapto-propionic acid on the gold surface. Cyclic voltammetry using these electrodes shows that ferritin exhibits slow electron transfer kinetics at low potentials, yet fairly well-defined current—potential curves. In addition, the voltammetry indicates that adsorption of ferritin precedes the electron transfer step. Controlled potential electrolysis measurements yielded an n-value of 1910 electrons transferred per mole of ferritin. Cyclic voltammetry of a solution containing ferritin as well as nitrilotriacetate yields no electrolytic currents at potentials where the iron—nitrilotriacetate complex undergoes redox reactions, indicating that the currents observed in the voltammetry of ferritin were not due to free iron in the ferritin sample. In addition, the voltammetry of iron-free ferritin (apoferritin) did not yield appreciable currents, providing additional support to the suggestion that the observed voltammetric currents were due to the redox reactions of ferritin iron. Self-assembled monolayers containing carboxylate end groups effectively promoted the direct electron transfer of ferritin at a gold electrode, thus demonstrating that the electron transfer mechanisms of ferritin can now be probed electrochemically.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of cytochrome c immobilized on gold nanoparticles-chitosan-carbon nanotubes-modified electrode

A robust and effective nanohybrid film based on gold nanoparticles (GNPs)/chitosan (Chit)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) was prepared by a layer-by-layer self-assembly technique. Cytochrome c (Cyt c) was successfully immobilized on the nanohybrid film modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode by cyclic voltammetry. The direct electron transfer between Cyt c and the modified electrode was investigated in detail. Cyt c shows a couple of quasi-reversible and well-defined cyclic voltammetry peaks with a formal potential (E^0′) of −0.16 V (versus Ag/AgCl) in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The Cyt c/GNPs/Chit/MWNTs modified GC electrode gives an improved electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The sensitivity is 92.21 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻² and the calculated apparent Michaelis-Menten constant () is 0.791 mM, indicating a high-catalytic activity of Cyt c. The catalysis currents increase linearly to the H₂O₂ concentration in a wide range of 1.5 × 10⁻⁶ to 5.1 × 10⁻⁴ M with a correlation coefficient 0.999. The detection limit is 9.0 × 10⁻⁷ M (at the ratio of signal to noise, S/N = 3). Moreover, the modified electrode displays rapid response (5 s) to H₂O₂, and possesses good stability and reproducibility.     

Temperature dependence of the electronic factor in the nonadiabatic electron transfer at metal and semiconductor electrodes

The temperature dependence of the electronic contribution to the nonadiabatic electron transfer rate constant (k_ET) at metal electrodes is discussed. It is found in these calculations that this contribution is proportional to the absolute temperature T. A simple interpretation is given. We also consider the nonadiabatic rate constant for electron transfer at a semiconductor electrode. Under conditions for the maximum rate constant, the electronic contribution is also estimated to be proportional to T, but for different reasons than in the case of metals (Boltzmann statistics and transfer at the conduction band edge for the semiconductor versus Fermi–Dirac statistics and transfer at the Fermi level, which is far from the band edge, of the metal).     

Electron transfer reactions relevant to atom transfer radical polymerization

The continuous development of more active and stable catalysts in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) has increasingly required a thorough knowledge of concurrent electron transfer reactions that can affect catalyst performance. Special attention is provided in this short review to such processes, including disproportionation, most pronounced in Cu-mediated ATRP, the reduction of radicals to carbanions or oxidation to carbocations, and radical coordination to the metal catalyst resulting in the interplay of controlled radical polymerization mechanisms.     

Direct electron transfer of PQQ-glucose dehydrogenase at modified carbon nanotubes electrodes

In order to establish efficient enzyme-electrode-contacts for the pyrroloquinoline quinone dependent glucose dehydrogenase (PQQ-GDH) different immobilisation strategies are investigated. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) on gold electrodes are modified by chemical treatment and by (poly)-aniline derivatives. The electropolymerisation of methoxy-m-anilinesulfonic acid and m-aminobenzoic acid on the MWCNTs allows the covalent coupling of the PQQ-GDH. Such a poly-[ASA-ABA]/MWCNT/Au electrode can achieve current densities of up to 500 μA/cm² at a potential of 100 mV vs. Ag/AgCl. Furthermore investigations with small amounts of free PQQ indicate direct electron transfer between enzyme and electrode.     

Redox reactions in transition metal oxide gels

Transition metal ions are known to exhibit several oxidation states so that redox reactions can take place during the sol-gel synthesis of the corresponding oxides. The reduction of molecular precursors increases the size of the metal cation, favoring coordination expansion and the formation of condensed species. Electron delocalization through the oxide network is responsible for the electrical, optical, and electrochemical properties of transition metal oxide gels. Moreover the large surface/volume ratio — due to the small size of the solid particles — leads to a whole range of ion and electron exchange reactions at the oxide/water interface of transition metal oxide colloids.     

Direct electron transfer reactions between human ceruloplasmin and electrodes

In an effort to find conditions favouring bioelectrocatalytic reduction of oxygen by surface-immobilised human ceruloplasmin (Cp), direct electron transfer (DET) reactions between Cp and an extended range of surfaces were considered. Exploiting advances in surface nanotechnology, bare and carbon-nanotube-modified spectrographic graphite electrodes as well as bare, thiol- and gold-nanoparticle-modified gold electrodes were considered, and ellipsometry provided clues as to the amount and form of adsorbed Cp. DET was studied under different conditions by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Two Faradaic processes with midpoint potentials of about 400 mV and 700 mV vs. NHE, corresponding to the redox transformation of copper sites of Cp, were clearly observed. In spite of the significant amount of Cp adsorbed on the electrode surfaces, as well as the quite fast DET reactions between the redox enzyme and electrodes, bioelectrocatalytic reduction of oxygen by immobilised Cp was never registered. The bioelectrocatalytic inertness of this complex multi-functional redox enzyme interacting with a variety of surfaces might be associated with a very complex mechanism of intramolecular electron transfer involving a kinetic trapping behaviour.     

Electron transfer networks

In this paper, we study electron transfer networks. These are generalisations of electron transport chains, and consist of a set of substrates which can exist in reduced and oxidised forms. The reduced forms can transfer electrons to the oxidised forms, and there are some electron inflow and outflow processes. We show that under mild assumptions, such systems can have only very simple behaviour, with a single globally stable equilibrium. To prove this we show that the Jacobian of the system has negative logarithmic norm in an appropriate norm. From this result, uniqueness and global stability of any equilibrium follows. The results extend, with only minor modifications, to binary interconversion networks, where the only allowed reactions are interconversions between substrates, and inflow/outflow processes.      

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.     

Electrochemical fingerprint of cytochrome c on a polymer/MWCNT nanocomposite electrode

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Effects of metal ions on photoinduced electron transfer in zinc porphyrin-naphthalenediimide linked systems

Zinc porphyrin-naphthalenediimide (ZnP-NIm) dyads and zinc porphyrin-pyromellitdiimide-naphthalenediimide (ZnP-Im-NIm) triad have been employed to examine the effects of metal ions on photoinduced charge-separation (CS) and charge-recombination (CR) processes in the presence of metal ions (scandium triflate (Sc(OTf)(3)) or lutetium triflate (Lu(OTf)(3)), both of which can bind with the radical anion of NIm). Formation of the charge-separated states in the absence and in the presence of Sc(3+) was confirmed by the appearance of absorption bands due to ZnP(.) (+) and NIm(.) (-) in the absence of metal ions and of those due to ZnP(.) (+) and the NIm(.) (-)/Sc(3+) complex in the presence of Sc(3+) in the time-resolved transient absorption spectra of dyads and triad. The lifetimes of the charge-separated states in the presence of 1.0 x 10(-3) M Sc(3+) (14 micros for ZnP-NIm, 8.3 micros for ZnP-Im-NIm) are more than ten times longer than those in the absence of metal ions (1.3 micros for ZnP-NIm, 0.33 micros for ZnP-Im-NIm). In contrast, the rate constants of the CS step determined by the fluorescence lifetime measurements are the same, irrespective of the presence or absence of metal ions. This indicates that photoinduced electron transfer from (1)ZnP(*) to NIm in the presence of Sc(3+) occurs without involvement of the metal ion to produce ZnP(.) (+)-NIm(.) (-), followed by complexation with Sc(3+) to afford the ZnP(.) (+)-NIm(.) (-)/Sc(3+) complex. The one-electron reduction potential (E(red)) of the NIm moiety in the presence of a metal ion is shifted in a positive direction with increasing metal ion concentration, obeying the Nernst equation, whereas the one-electron oxidation potential of the ZnP moiety remains the same. The driving force dependence of the observed rate constants (k(ET)) of CS and CR processes in the absence and in the presence of metal ions is well evaluated in terms of the Marcus theory of electron transfer. In the presence of metal ions, the driving force of the CS process is the same as that in the absence of metal ions, whereas the driving force of the CR process decreases with increasing metal ion concentration. The reorganization energy of the CR process also decreases with increasing metal ion concentration, when the CR rate constant becomes independent of the metal ion concentration.     

Reversible immobilization and direct electron transfer of cytochrome c on a pH-sensitive polymer interface

A pH-sensitive polymer interface has been used as a matrix for reversible immobilization of cytochrome c (Cyt c) on an Au surface through a dip-coating process. The pH-sensitive behavior of the polymer brush interface has been demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The reversible immobilization and electron-transfer properties of Cyt c have been investigated by in situ UV/Vis spectrophotometry and CV. The results have shown that the poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) brush acted as an excellent adsorption matrix and a good accelerant for the direct electron transfer of Cyt c, which gave redox peaks with a formal potential of 40 mV versus Ag/AgCl in pH 7.6 phosphate buffer solution. The average surface coverage of Cyt c on the PAA film was about 1.7 x 10(-10) mol cm(-2), indicating a multilayer of Cyt c. The electron-transfer rate constant was calculated to be around 0.19 s(-1) according to the CV experiments. The interface was subjected to in situ attenuated total internal reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic analysis, in order to further confirm the immobilization of Cyt c on the surface. This polymer-protein system may have potential applications in the design of biosensors, protein separation, interfacial engineering, biomimetics, and so on.