Surface preparation of glassy carbon electrodes

Recent work on glassy carbon electrodes for various applications is reviewed. Activation of glassy carbon electrodes by different types of polishing, heat treatment, and electrochemical methods yields enhanced rates of electron transfer. Characterization of different glassy carbon surfaces by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that polished and electrochemically pretreated surfaces contain more oxygen on the surface than do unactivated surfaces; much of this oxygen is associated with phenolic groups. Causes of activation, characterization of glassy carbon by spectroscopic methods, and the role of surface cleanliness are summarized. For simple electron-transfer reactions, removal of contaminants from the electrode surface is important. For proton-coupled electrode reactions, specific interactions of reactants with catalytic groups created on the surface during polishing tend to play an important role in electrode activation     

集成化金膜阵列电极的制作研究

以聚乙烯不干胶掩膜版法结合金属溅射沉积技术在FR-4玻璃纤维版上制作了由6个金膜工作电极(1 mm×2 mm)、1个大面积金膜对电极(2 mm×13 mm)和1个厚膜Ag/AgCl参比电极构成的集成化金膜阵列电极系统,并利用电化学手段对阵列电极系统进行了考察。研究结果表明,K3Fe(CN)6在厚膜Ag/AgCl/1.0 mol/L NaCl参比电极上的式电位与商业Ag/AgCl/3.0 mol/L NaCl参比电极相差0.067 V;参比电极放置1个月后,测量电位未发生明显变化。利用扫描电化学显微镜对工作电极表面平整度进行考察,结果表明工作电极表面具有较好的平整度。通过测量H2SO4还原峰面积评价了工作电极电化学面积的批内、批间一致性;通过K3Fe(CN)6在电极上的Ipa/Ipc比值评价了工作电极电化学特性的批内、批间一致性。结果表明,阵列电极面积和电化学特性具有良好的批内和批间一致性。对集成化金膜阵列电极系统的研究结果表明,聚乙烯不干胶掩膜版法结合金属溅射沉积技术制作的阵列电极能够满足电化学电极的要求,可作为电化学生物传感器的基础电极。     

A comparison of electrochemical and Auger analysis of the surface composition of platinum-rhodium alloys

Values of the surface composition of platinum-rhodium alloys determined electrochemically, utilizing the potential of the oxygen desorption peak on cyclic voltammograms, have been compared with those obtained by Auger electron spectroscopy (a.e.s.). This comparison confirms that the electrochemical method is applicable to analysis of the surface of cycled as well as untreated homogeneous noble metal alloys. The composition profile in the surface region of cycled electrodes was determined by sputtering of the surface followed by a.e.s. measurements. The rhodium content was found to increase linearly with depth. The depth scale was established from analyses of the metal dissolved during potential cycling. Consideration of the differences between data obtained from the electrochemical and a.e.s. studies leads to the conclusion that the surface zone involved in chemisorption extends over a few atomic layers.     

The study of the active surface for CO oxidation over supported Pd catalysts

CO oxidation was investigated on various powder oxide supported Pd catalysts by temperature-programmed reaction.The pre-reduced catalysts show significantly higher activities than the pre-oxidized ones.Model studies were performed to better understand the oxidation state,reactivities and stabilities of partially oxidized Pd surfaces under CO oxidation reaction conditions using an in situ infrared reflection absorption spectrometer(IRAS).Three O/Pd(100)model surfaces,chemisorbed oxygen covered surface,surface oxide and bulk-like surface oxide,were prepared and characterized by low-energy electron diffraction(LEED)and Auger electron spectroscopy(AES).The present work demonstrates that the oxidized palladium surface is less active for CO oxidation than the metallic surface,and is unstable under the reaction conditions with sufficient CO.     

Gas-phase observation of multiply charged C60 anions

Gas-phase observation of C60(1-), C60(3-), and C60(4-) anions generated at platinum and gold electrodes and detected by electrochemical/electrospray mass spectrometry is reported. The anions were electrochemically generated from solutions of C60 dissolved in toluene/acetonitrile as well as from reduction of C60 films on gold electrode surfaces. The gas-phase observation of C60(3-) and C60(4-), despite the fact that they have negative electron affinities, is a result of a Coulombic barrier to electron loss. The fact that C60(2-) was not detected in these experiments is ascribed to its limited solubility under the reaction conditions. These studies, which demonstrate the gas-phase kinetic stability of C60(3-) and C60(4-), illustrate the promise of electrochemical/electrospray mass spectrometry for the study of metastable anions.     

Quasi in situ XPS study of anion intercalation into HOPG from the ionic liquid [EMIM][BF4]

Highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) electrodes were electrochemically oxidized in the ionic liquid [EMIM][BF₄]. Both, the electrolyte and the electrode surface were investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) after electrochemical treatment. For that purpose an electrochemical preparation chamber was attached to the ultra high vacuum system allowing for preparation of electrodes in non-aqueous electrolyte and subsequent sample transfer under inert nitrogen atmosphere. The XP-spectra of all species detected on the oxidized HOPG surface show core level shifts towards lower binding energies referring to a Fermi level shift and proving that a graphite intercalation compound was formed. Anion intercalation occurs together with co-intercalation of cations at 2 V vs. carbon quasi-reference electrode and is found to be irreversible. XPS analysis of the ionic liquid prior to and after electrochemical treatment indicates a change in electrolyte composition.     

Polycrystalline Gold Electrodes: A Comparative Study of Pretreatment Procedures Used for Cleaning and Thiol Self‐Assembly Monolayer Formation

The influence of different surface pretreatment procedures on the electrochemical response of a polycrystalline gold electrode was evaluated. Mechanical polishing with slurry alumina (M), chemical oxidation with H₂SO₄/H₂O₂ (C), electrochemical polishing (potential cycling between ?0.1 V and 1.2 V vs. SCE) (E), chemical reduction with ethanol, and combinations among these treatments were employed to change the surface electrode characteristics. The efficiency of the proposed pretreatments was evaluated by electrochemical responses towards the redox couple ferri(II/III)‐ammonium sulfate and by the formation of a self‐assembly monolayer of 3‐mercaptopropionic acid (3 MPA SAM) on gold electrodes. The procedure (C) allowed important gold surfaces activation. Using procedures (C) and (E) the roughness of polycrystalline gold surfaces was significantly minimized and more reproducible surfaces could be obtained. From the profile of reductive desorption of 3 MPA SAM it was possible to verify that reduced gold surfaces generated better packed monolayers than oxidized ones and a comparative study using CV and DPV techniques showed that between the two desorption peaks, the one localized at more negative potential values corresponds to the cleavage of Au‐S bond from the chemisorbed thiol. In general, the improvement in the studied electrochemical responses could not only be attributed to an increase in the real surface area of the electrode, but to the chemical surface states set off by the pretreatment procedure.     

Oxygen Evolution Reaction on Nanoporous Gold Modified with Ir and Pt: Synergistic Electrocatalysis between Structure and Composition

Active oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts for water splitting have received great attention because of their importance in the utilization of renewable energy sources. Here, the electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction activities of a nanoporous gold (NPG)‐based electrode in acidic media are investigated. The dependence of the oxygen evolution reaction activity on the NPG surface area shows that the large electrochemical surface areas of the NPG are effectively utilized to enhance electrocatalytic activity. The NPG surfaces are modified with Pt using atomic layer electrodeposition methods, and the resulting NPG@Pt exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic activities compared to those of the NPG and flat Pt electrodes. Ir‐modified NPG (NPG@Ir) electrodes are prepared by spontaneous exchange of Ir on NPG surfaces and exhibit enhanced electrocatalytic activity compared to that of flat Ir surfaces. The modification of NPG@Pt with Ir results in NPG@Pt/Ir electrodes, and their electrocatalytic activities exceed those of NPG@Ir. The enhanced oxygen evolution reaction activity on NPG@Pt/Ir over that on NPG@Ir surfaces is examined by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The oxygen evolution reaction activity on NPG@Pt/Ir surfaces demonstrates synergistic electrocatalysis between the nanoporous surface structure and active electrocatalytic components.     

巯基化改性壳聚糖在电化学生物传感器制备中的应用

以壳聚糖、N-乙酰-L-半胱氨酸(NAC)为原料,以1-羟基苯并三唑(HOBt)和1-乙基-3-(3-二甲基胺丙基)碳化二亚胺盐酸盐(EDAC)为缩合剂,合成功能化壳聚糖衍生物巯基壳聚糖(CHS-NAC).用红外光谱(FTIR)、核磁共振(1H-NMR)及X射线衍射(XRD)对其结构进行表征,用Ellman’s试剂通过标准曲线法测得巯基含量.利用CHS-NAC的黏附性,通过层层吸附的方法将CHS-NAC、纳米金及细胞色素c分别修饰到玻碳电极(GC)上,通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)对修饰电极表面的形貌进行了观察,采用循环伏安和电化学阻抗研究了不同修饰膜电极的电化学行为,及扫描速率对细胞色素c修饰电极的影响,并开展了对过氧化氢的电催化分析.实验结果表明,CHS-NAC能高效地将纳米金及细胞色素c固定在电极表面,并能有效发挥纳米金辅助转移电子及细胞色素c对过氧化氢催化的能力.     

A combined μ-mercury reference electrode/Au counter-electrode system for microelectrochemical applications

Different types of mercury-based μ-reference electrodes (Hg/Hg₂SO₄/Na₂SO₄, Hg/Hg₂(CH₃COO)₂/NaCOOCH₃) have been developed following the concept of agar-based μ-reference electrodes. Mercury was electrochemically deposited onto a gold wire to form an amalgam. The corresponding mercury salt was formed electrochemically at the surface. This electrode can be inserted into a capillary that is filled with the electrolyte of interest. To simplify the handling of this μ-reference electrode, to reduce diffusion and to avoid leakage, the electrolyte was immobilised with agar. A 250-nm-thick gold layer on the outer surface of the capillary of the reference electrode served as counter-electrode. The electrochemical behaviour of reference electrodes and counter-electrodes were proven by micro-polarisation curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potential transients and cyclic voltammetry.     

Real-time surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy monitoring of surface pH during electrochemical melting of double-stranded DNA

The application of a negative potential ramp at a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) functionalized electrode surface results in the gradual denaturation of the DNA in a process known as electrochemical melting. The underlying physical chemistry behind electrochemically driven DNA denaturation is not well understood, and one possible mechanism is a change in local pH at the electrode surface. We demonstrate that by coimmobilization of p-mercaptobenozic acid at a dsDNA-functionalized electrode surface, it is possible to monitor both DNA denaturation and the local pH simultaneously using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. We find that the local pH at the electrode surface does not change as the applied potential is scanned negative and the dsDNA denatures. We therefore conclude that in these experiments electrochemical melting is not caused by electrochemically driven local pH changes.     

Distribution and thickness of the surface contaminations on STM tungsten tips,studied by AES/SEM and ARXPS

The combination of Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and angle resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS) has been applied to the analysis of the distribution of elements at the surface region of electrochemically etched tungsten tips and the determination of the thickness of a layer with oxygen and carbon contamination. Auger line profiling revealed a homogeneous distribution of oxygen and significant enrichment of carbon on the W tip between 0 and 1.5 m from the top. The thickness of the contamination layer on various W materials, electrochemically etched, was found to be 1.35±0.15 nm as measured using ARXPS, and was estimated to be about 1–3 nm as measured by AES.     

SAM investigations of temperature programmed surface segregation of impurities in α-iron

The time development of the surface concentration of impurities such as sulphur and nitrogen in high-purity polycrystalline α-iron samples has been investigated by means of Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) and Scanning Auger Microscopy (SAM) during linearly increasing the temperature from about 100 to 850°C. The subsequent segregation of N and S revealed strong differences in the segregation kinetics of these elements — especially with respect to the contribution of the dominating transport mechanism (grain boundary diffusion and bulk diffusion). Calculating the effective diffusion coefficient of S from two subsequent segregation runs, strongly differing values were found. An interpretation of the change in the diffusion properties of sulphur is given based on SIMS (Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy) investigations performed before and after the thermal treatment.     

An electrochemical amplification immunoassay using bi-electrode signal transduction system

An electrochemical immunoassay technique has been developed based on the sensitive detection of the enzyme-generated product with a bi-electrode signal transduction system. The system uses two separate electrodes, an immunoelectrode and a detection electrode to form a galvanic cell to implement the redox reactions on two different electrodes, that is the enzyme-generated reductant in the anode region is electrochemically oxidized by an oxidant (silver ions) in the cathode apartment. Based on a sandwich procedure, after immunoelectrode with antibody immobilized on its surface bound with the corresponding antigen and alkaline phosphatase conjugated antibody successively, the immunoelectrode was placed in enzyme reaction solution and wired to the detection electrode which was immerged into a silver deposition solution. These two solutions are connected with a salt bridge. Thus a bi-electrode signal transduction system device is constructed in which the immunoelectrode acts as anode and the detection electrode serves as cathode. The enzyme bound on the anode surface initiates the hydrolysis of ascorbic acid 2-phosphate to produce ascorbic acid in the anode region. The ascorbic acid produced in the anodic apartment is electrochemically oxidized by silver ions coupled with the deposition of silver metal on the cathode. Via a period of 30 min deposition, silver will deposited on the detection electrode in an amount corresponding to the quantity of ascorbic acid produced, leading to a great enhancement in the electrochemical stripping signal due to the accumulation of metallic silver by enzyme-generated product. Compared with the method using chemical deposition of silver, the electrochemical deposition of silver on a separate detection electrode apartment avoids the possible influence of silver deposition on the enzyme activity.     

电位调控制备还原氧化石墨烯的电催化性能研究

本文通过控制电位还原氧化石墨烯,可控制备不同含氧官能团的石墨烯纳米材料。以多巴胺、[Fe(CN)_6]~(3-)、NADH为电活性探针,研究了石墨烯表面含氧官能团、缺陷、表面荷电性质以及导电性等对石墨烯电催化性能的影响。研究发现,低还原程度的氧化石墨烯表面含有大量缺陷和丰富的官能团,能够促进多巴胺自催化反应,也有利于K_3[Fe(CN)_6]在电极表面的电子转移;随着氧化石墨烯还原程度提高,其导电性逐渐得到改善,且其表面官能团和缺陷位点数量逐渐减少,对NAD~+的吸附变弱,因而能促进NADH发生电催化氧化。     

Voltammetry of Organic Microparticles

 Solid microparticles of several different insoluble organic compounds were mechanically immobilized on the surface of graphite electrodes and immersed into a liquid electrolyte in order to study their electrochemical reactions. Cyclic staircase voltammetry and square-wave voltammetry were used. Quinhydrone was found to be a stable intermediate in the reversible redox reaction of solid quinone and hydroquinone on the electrode surface. The reaction occurs on the surface of the solid particle which is in contact with water. Indigo can be reduced to leucoindigo and oxidized to dehydroindigo in two separate reversible redox reactions. In strongly basic medium indigo dissolves in water upon electroreduction. A hydroacridine radical was detected as a stable intermediate in the electrochemically irreversible redox reaction of acridine and dihydroacridine. Famotidine can be electrooxidized and the product of this reaction can be electroreduced in two separate chemically irreversible reactions. Probucol is oxidized to a semiquinone radical which can be re-reduced in an electrochemically irreversible redox reaction. Propyl- thiouracil can be also oxidized to an unknown product which can be re-reduced in a chemically reversible, but slow solid state surface redox reaction. Reductions of solid thionicotinoylanilide and nicotinoylanilide are totally irreversible. Received September 22, 1998. Revision March 19, 1999.     

The hydrophilic nature of gold and platinum

Clean gold and platinum surfaces have been shown to be hydrophilic in borate and sulphate media at all potentials between hydrogen and oxygen evolution. Finite contact angles were observed at the nitrogen/metal/solution interface immediately after polishing with diamond paste, but electrochemical evidence demonstrated that such surfaces were contaminated. After cleaning the surface chemically or electrochemically, zero contact angles were observed.     

Potential-dependent chemiluminescence of luminol on the gold electrode modified with ferrocenylalkanethiol self-assembled monolayer

Self-assembled monolayer of ferrocenylundecanethiol (FcC11SH) on gold electrode was used for the potential-dependent catalyst for chemiluminescence of luminol. Ferrocene head groups adsorbed on gold were oxidized to ferricinium cation species electrochemically and catalyzed the chemiluminescence of luminol. As the redox state of ferrocene group can be regulated by electrode potential, chemiluminescence response can also be controlled electrochemically. The presented system was adopted for detection of glucose in the presence of glucose oxidase since the light emission was detected even in the neutral and weak acid solution.     

Attempts to acclerate the rates of oxidation of ruthenium and osmium tetramethylcyclam complexes at graphite and glassy carbon electrodes and within nafion coatings

The oxidation of 1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane complexes of ruthenium(III) and (IV) and osmium(III) proceeds much more slowly than the reduction of the corresponding oxidation products at platinum, gold and untreated glassy carbon electrodes. The oxidations at oxidized glassy carbon and pyrolytic graphite electrode surfaces are more rapid. The suggestion (Cabaniss et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 107 (1985) 1845) that quinone-like functional groups on the oxidized electrode surfaces are responsible for the higher reaction rates was tested by adsorbing various quinones on the surfaces of unactivated glassy carbon electrodes. Rate enhancements resulted in some, but not all, cases. When they were incorporated in Nafion coatings, the oxidation of the ruthenium and osmium complexes was slow at all electrode surfaces. The pH dependences of the oxidation rates on both bare electrodes and within Nafion indicated that the rate limiting step was the proton loss that accompanies the electron transfer during the oxidation. One attempt to utilize a powerfully oxidizing, proton-accepting complex as a homogeneous catalyst for the oxidations was unsuccessful. A possible reason is suggested for the apparently superior catalytic activity of oxidized surfaces.     

DNA Hydrolysis and Voltammetric Determination of Guanine and Adenine Using Different Electrodes

Abstract

This work reports the development of a biosensor method for the label‐free detection of specific DNA sequences. In the initial phase, square wave voltammetry (SWV) was used in a comparative investigation into the electrochemical oxidation of purines (guanine and adenine) and DNA fragments at various electrode surfaces: carbon paste (CPE), glassy carbon electrode (GCE), and gold (AuE). Relative to the carbon electrodes, an approximate 4.0‐fold, 6.0‐fold, and 3.25‐fold increase in the anodic response was observed when guanine, adenine, and hydrolyzed DNA, respectively, were measured on the AuE. It was shown that the guanine and adenine bases could be successfully determined by use of SWV for a deoxyribonucleic acid sample following acid hydrolysis. This label‐free detection of hydrolyzed DNA on gold electrodes has significant advantages over methods using existing carbon electrode materials because of its higher sensitivity and the potential applicability of microfabrication techniques for the production of the requisite gold electrodes.

In another phase of development, the times and conditions for DNA hydrolysis and purine release were investigated. It was shown that under optimal conditions, trace levels of the purine bases could be readily detected following 20 min of hydrolysis at room temperature. The proposed method can be used to estimate the guanine and adenine contents in DNA with in a linear range of 5–30 ng ml^?1.

Finally, when appropriate probe sequences were first adsorbed on the surface of the screen‐printed gold electrode (SPGE), this electrochemical biosensor could be used to specifically detect sequences from ss corona virus aviair following hybridization and hydrolysis reactions on the sensor surface. No enhancement of the voltammetric response was observed when the sensor was challenged with a non‐complementary DNA sequence.