UHV–EC and EC–STM studies of molecular chemisorption at well-defined surfaces: hydroquinone and benzoquinone on Pd(hkl)

The chemisorption, from aqueous solutions, of hydroquinone and benzoquinone onto well-defined Pd(111) and Pd(100) electrode surfaces has been studied by tandem electrochemistry, high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy and in situ scanning tunneling microscopy. The results indicate that hydroquinone is oxidatively chemisorbed to form a quinonoid species that is oriented parallel to the surface but with a slight tilt in which one of the para-oxygens is topographically just higher than the other. The same surface species is obtained when adsorption is from aqueous benzoquinone.     

Ultrathin Carbon Film Electrodes from Vacuum‐Carbonised Cellulose Nanofibril Composite

A novel way to produce ultrathin transparent carbon layers on tin‐doped indium oxide (ITO) substrates is developed. The ITO surface is coated with cellulose nanofibrils (from sisal) via layer‐by‐layer electrostatic binding with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) or PDDAC acting as the binder. The cellulose nanofibril‐PDDAC composite film is then vacuum‐carbonised at 500 °C. The resulting carbon films are characterised by atomic force microscopy (AFM), small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS), and Raman methods. Smooth carbon films with good adhesion to the ITO substrate are formed. The electrochemical characterisation of the carbon films is based on the oxidation of hydroquinone and the reduction of benzoquinone in aqueous phosphate buffer media. A modest effect of the cellulose nanofibril‐PDDAC film on the rate of electron transfer is observed. The effect of the film on the rate of electron transfer after carbonisation is more dramatic. For a 40‐layer cellulose nanofibril‐PDDAC film after carbonisation a two‐order of magnitude change in the rate of electron transfer occurs presumably due to a better interaction of the hydroquinone/benzoquinone system with the electrode surface.     

Calculation of standard electrode potential of half reaction for benzoquinone and hydroquinone

Geometric parameters, the vibrational frequencies and thermochemical values of benzoquinone and hydroquinone were computed using ab initio molecular orbital calculations (HF) and density function theory (B3LYP) methods with the 6-31G(d) basis set, respectively. The calculated frequencies for benzoquinone and hydroquinone were used for the assignment of the IR frequencies observed in the experimental IR spectrum. Cyclic voltammetry with a glassy carbon electrode of hydroquinone solutions in phosphate buffers at pH 7.0 showed that standard electrode potential of half reaction for benzoquinone and hydroquinone is 0.714V. Standard electrode potential of half reaction for benzoquinone and hydroquinone was calculated using the sum of electronic and thermal free energies, enthalpies of sublimation and energies of solvation for benzoquinone and hydroquinone.     

Sonochemical oxidation of phenol and three of its intermediate products in aqueous media: Catechol,hydroquinone, and benzoquinone. Kinetic and mechanistic aspects

The sonochemical oxidation of phenol has been examined in airequilibrated aqueous media at various pH’s and at various insonation powers. Its disappearance follows zero-order kinetics at [phenol]_initial ~ 30 to 70 μM Three principal intermediate species formed at pH 3: catechol (CC), hydroquinone (HQ), and p-benzoquinone (BQ); at natural pH (5.4–5.7) only catechol and hydroquinone formed. No intermediate species were detected at pH 12 under the conditions used. The sonochemical fate of CC, HQ, and BQ was also examined at pH 3 and at natural pH’s. At pH 3, BQ is the major species formed during insonation of HQ, while HQ is produced during insonation of BQ. In both cases, an additional intermediate formed in trace quantities that is identified as hydroxy-p-benzoquinone. These same intermediate species have been identified in the heterogeneous photocatalyzed oxidation of phenol in irradiated titania suspensions. The present results confirm the important role of ’OH radicals in degradation processes. Although CO₂ is the ultimate product in heterogenous photocatalysis, irradiation of a phenolic aqueous solution by ultrasounds showed no loss of total organic carbon (TOC) after several hours, even though the aromatic substrate and the intermediates had degraded. A simple kinetic model/scheme is described to account for the events in the conversion of the substrates to products. It is concluded that the hydrophobic benzoquinone reacts with ¹OH and H¹ radicals at the hydrophobic gas bubble/liquid interface, while the hydrophilic species (phenol, CC, and HQ) react, to a large extent, with the ¹ OH radicals in the solution bulk.     

pMB/MWNTs/GC电极对水体中苯二酚异构体的同时测定

通过在多壁碳纳米管修饰玻碳电极上电聚合亚甲基蓝,制备了聚亚甲基蓝/碳纳米管/玻碳电极(pMB/MWNTs/GC)。用循环伏安法研究了3种苯二酚异构体在该电极上的电化学行为,结果表明,在pH7.0的磷酸盐缓冲溶液中,该修饰电极对苯二酚异构体的氧化表现出优异的电催化性能和选择性,对苯二酚、邻苯二酚和间苯二酚的氧化峰分别为0.104、0.203、0.609 V(vs.SCE),峰电位差值分别为99、406 mV。基于苯二酚异构体在pMB/MWNTs/GC修饰电极上的伏安行为,建立了苯二酚3种异构体同时分析的新方法。考察了各影响因素对测定的影响,最优实验条件下,在5.0×10-6~1.5×10-4mol.L-1范围内,3种苯二酚异构体的阳极峰电流与其浓度存在线性关系,检出限均为1.0×10-6mol.L-1。将该法用于水体及冲洗废液中苯二酚异构体含量的测定,结果满意。     

苯酚在碳纳米管修饰玻碳电极表面的电氧化机理研究

以含有苯酚的PBS溶液为电解液,采用循环伏安法研究了苯酚在碳纳米管修饰的玻碳电极表面电化学氧化的机理。结果表明,苯酚在碳纳米管修饰电极表面的氧化机理为：苯酚先于正向扫描中不可逆氧化为苯醌后,在负向扫描中被还原为对苯二酚和邻苯二酚,对苯二酚和邻苯二酚可进一步发生可逆氧化还原反应而存在于溶液中。对苯二酚和邻苯二酚的生成对苯酚氧化形成苯醌的峰电流产生干扰,从而影响苯酚电化学测定的灵敏度和准确性。     

Voltammetric studies of the activity of an electrode made of a graphite-epoxy composite in redox reactions of ascorbic acid and hydroquinone

The potentials of the anodic peak of ascorbic acid oxidation and the potential differences of anodic and cathodic peaks (ΔE _p) of the hydroquinone/benzoquinone redox system at an electrode made of a graphite-epoxy composite are determined in weakly acidic and neutral supporting electrolytes by direct and cyclic voltammetry. The results obtained are compared with thermodynamic values and with the available values of these parameters at different solid electrodes for the above-mentioned redox systems. The effect of aging of the surface of electrodes made of graphite-epoxy composites on the potentials and peak currents of the anodic oxidation of ascorbic acid are studied. It is demonstrated that the regeneration of the electrode surface by mechanically cutting thin layers is important for reducing the δE _p value of the hydroquinone/benzoquinone redox system down to 28–30 mV in supporting electrolytes with pH 2.0 and 7.0. This value is typical of thermodynamically reversible electrode reactions involving two-electron transfer at 20–25°C.     

Simultaneous determination of hydroquinone and catechol based on glassy carbon electrode modified with gold-graphene nanocomposite

We have synthesized a virtually monodisperse gold-graphene (Au-G) nanocomposite by a single-step chemical reduction method in aqueous dimethylformamide solution. The nanoparticles are homogenously distributed over graphene nanosheets. A glassy carbon electrode was modified with this nanocomposite and displayed high electrocatalytic activity and extraordinary electronic transport properties due to its large surface area. It enabled the simultaneous determination of hydroquinone (HQ) and catechol (CC) in acetate buffer solution of pH?4.5. Two pairs of well-defined, quasi-reversible redox peaks are obtained, one for HQ and its oxidized form, with a 43 mV separation of peak potentials (ΔE_p), the other for CC and its oxidized form, with a ΔE_p of 39 mV. Due to the large separation of oxidation peak potentials (102 mV), the concentrations of HQ and CC can be easily determined simultaneously. The oxidation peak currents for both HQ and CC increase linearly with the respective concentrations in the 1.0 μM to 0.1 mM concentration range, with the detection limits of 0.2 and 0.15 μM (S/N?=?3), respectively. The modified electrode was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of HQ and CC in spiked tap water, demonstrating that the Au-G nanocomposite may act as a high-performance sensing material in the selective detection of some environmental pollutants.

Thin films of Pd and Pd–1% MWCNT as new electrocatalysts for oxidation of phenol in acid medium

Thin films of pure Pd and composite of Pd and 1% multiwalled carbon nanotube have been obtained on glassy carbon electrodes by borohydride reduction method and investigated as electrocatalysts for the oxidation of phenol in acid medium at 25 °C, using cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronopotentiometry, and high-performance liquid chromatography. The CV study showed that both the electrocatalysts are quite stable and active for the phenol oxidation in acid medium. Further, these electrodes do not seem to undergo deactivation due to intermediates and products formed during the phenol oxidation. With the increase in phenol concentration from 2 to 25 mM, the peak current (I _p) increases initially, reaches maximum at about 15 mM, and tends to decrease thereafter. The peak potential (E _p) value was found to be practically unchanged with phenol concentration. The rate for phenol oxidation (I _p) at the surface of both the electrocatalysts increased with the decrease in pH of the reaction mixture. The electrocatalytic activity of the composite electrode was, however, higher than that of pure Pd under similar experimental conditions. Benzoquinone and hydroquinone were identified as the major phenol degradation intermediate products.     

The Use of Thin‐Layer Electroanalysis in the Study of the Chemisorption and Anodic Oxidation of Aromatic Molecules at Smooth Polycrystalline Palladium

Thin‐layer electroanalytical chemistry has been used in the study of the chemisorption and anodic oxidation of hydroquinone and benzoquinone at smooth polycrystalline palladium electrode surfaces in aqueous sulfuric acid solutions. The results were reminiscent of those obtained previously on smooth polycrystalline platinum: i) At low aqueous‐solution concentrations, the diphenol is oxidatively chemisorbed to form surface‐coordinated benzoquinone oriented parallel to the surface. ii) At higher concentrations, the oxidative chemisorption occurs via C? H activation to yield an edge‐oriented diphenolic species. iii) Chemisorption from benzoquinone solutions leads to species identical to those from hydroquinone solutions. iv) The extent of anodic oxidation of the chemisorbed organic depends upon the initial adsorbed‐molecule orientation: the flat‐adsorbed species are oxidized completely to carbon dioxide, whereas oxidation of the edge‐chemisorbed species yields other (unidentified) products that are chemisorbed upon regeneration of the oxide‐free surface.     

Sensitive simultaneous determination of catechol and hydroquinone using a gold electrode modified with carbon nanofibers and gold nanoparticles

A highly sensitive electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous determination of catechol (CC) and hydroquinone (HQ) was fabricated by electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles onto carbon nanofiber film pre-cast on an Au electrode. Both CC and HQ cause a pair of quasi-reversible and well-defined redox peaks at the modified electrode in pH?7.0 solution. Simultaneously, the oxidation peak potentials of CC and HQ become separated by 112?mV. When simultaneously changing the concentrations of both CC and HQ, the response is linear between 9.0???M and 1.50?mM. In the presence of 0.15?mM of the respective isomer, the electrode gives a linear response in the range from 5.0 to 350???M, and from 9.0 to 500???M for CC and HQ, respectively, and detection limits are 0.36 and 0.86???M. The method was successfully examined for real sample analysis with high selectivity and sensitivity.

Amperometric Phenol Biosensor Based on Horseradish Peroxidase Entrapped PVF and PPy Composite Film Coated GC Electrode

Polyvinylferrocene (PVF) was used as a mediator for the fabrication of a horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-modified electrode to detect phenol derivatives via a composite polymeric matrix of conducting polypyrrole (PPy). Through an electropolymerization process, enzyme HRP was entrapped with PPy in a three-electrode system onto a glassy carbon electrode previously covered with PVF, resulting in a composite polymeric matrix. Steady-state amperometric measurements were performed at ?200 mV vs. Ag/AgCl in aqueous phosphate buffer containing NaCl 0.1 M (pH 6.8) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The response of the HRP-modified PVF electrode was investigated for various phenol derivatives, which were 4-chlorophenol, phenol, catechol, hydroquinone, 2-aminophenol, pyrogallol, m-cresol, and 4-methoxyphenol. Analytical parameters for the fabricated PVF electrode were obtained from the calibration curves. The highest sensitivity was obtained from the calibration of 4-chlorophenol as 29.91 nA/μM. The lowest detection limit was found to be 0.22 μM (S/N?=?3) for catechol, and the highest detection limit was found to be 0.79 μM (S/N?=?3) for 4-methoxyphenol among the tested derivatives. The biosensor can reach 95% of steady-state current in about 5 min. The electrode is stable for 2 months at 4 °C.     

Adsorption and Reactivity of Chlorogenic Acid at a Hydrophobic Carbon Ceramic Composite Electrode: Application for the Amperometric Detection of Hydrazine

Sol-gel technique was used for construction of a carbon composite electrode. The prepared carbon ceramic electrode was modified with electroless deposition of chlorogenic acid for less than 1 min. The adsorbed thin films of chlorogenic acid on carbon composite electrode show one pair of peaks with a surface confined characteristic, which strongly depends on the solution pH, as anticipated for quinone /hydroquinone functionalities. The modified electrode shows highly catalytic activity toward hydrazine electrooxidation at wide pH range (5–11). Also the rotating modified electrode shows excellent analytical performance for amperometric determination of hydrazine. The detection limit, sensitivity, response time and linear dynamic range are 20 nM, 220 nA / μM, 1 second and 0.1 μM-1 mM, respectively. The catalytic rate constant for hydrazine oxidation at the surface of modified electrode was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and was found to be around 1.5×10³ M⁻¹s⁻¹in phosphate buffer solution (pH 8). The precision of chronoamperometric measurements was 1–3% for 5 replicate determinations in the concentration range of the linear calibration. The reproducibility of modified CCE was evaluated with 8 successive polishing and modifications and then the anodic peak current was measured (RSD 2%). The advantages of this sensor are excellent catalytic activity, high sensitivity, good reproducibility and simplicity of preparation at short time periods.     

Voltammetry of a Benzoquinone–Hydroquinone Redox Couple at Electrodes Modified with a Polyvinylpyridine Film Doped with Cobalt Phthalocyanine

The electrochemical properties of a glassy-carbon electrode coated with a polyvinylpyridine film doped with incorporated cobalt phthalocyanine were studied in a reaction involving a benzoquinone–hydroquinone redox couple. It was found that poly-(2-vinylpyridine) film applied to the electrode and cobalt phthalocyanine deposited onto it or incorporated in the polymeric film exhibited electrocatalytic activity on the oxidation of hydroquinone. Conditions were selected for obtaining a polyvinylpyridine film doped with cobalt phthalocyanine on the electrode surface providing a maximum catalytic effect. The current of the hydroquinone oxidation peak and the current of the reverse benzoquinone reduction peak at the chemically modified electrode were linear functions of their concentrations in the range from 1 × 10^–6 to 1 × 10^–3 M.     

The electrooxidation of methanol and related compounds at ruthenium dioxide-coated electrodes

The underlying metal was observed to corrode when a ruthenium dioxide-coated titanium electrode was anodized in an aqueous methanol solution. With a similarly coated platinum electrode peaks were observed on the voltammogram below 1.0 V which were attributed to methanol oxidation on the underlying metal. This effect was more pronounced when the electrode was subjected during cycling to potentials close to 0 V. Rapid oxidation of methanol on RuO₂ was observed at potentials above 1.0 V, the rate at a given potential increasing in an approximately linear manner with increasing alcohol concentration. The rate of reaction also increased with increasing temperature and increasing surface roughness. Tafel slope values were rather high (>100 mV decade^?1) and a mechanism involving anodically generated species such as OH_ads was proposed to account for these results. The variation of activity with pH was similar to that reported earlier for oxygen evolution at these anodes and this was again explained in terms of partial deactivation of the surface due to a combination of proton loss and phosphate ion adsorption at intermediate pH values. The release of carbon dioxide from aqueous solutions of higher alcohols at 25°C confirmed the high oxidizing power of RuO₂ anodes.     

Indirect Measurement of Yoctomole Alkaline Phosphatase by Capillary Electrophoresis with Electrochemical Detection

A method for indirectly detecting yoctomole (ymol) alkaline phosphatase was developed by capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection. In this method, disodium phenyl phosphate was used as the enzyme substrate and the product (phenol) of its hydrolysis reaction catalyzed by alkaline phosphatase was detected at the carbon fiber electrode. The optimum conditions of detection are 1.0×10^?2 mol/L Na₂B₄O₇ (pH 9.8) for the running buffer; 1.00×10^?3 mol/L disodium phenyl phosphate for the enzyme substrate; 20.0 kV for the separation voltage; 5 kV and 10 s for the injection voltage and injection time; 1.05 V (vs. saturated calomel electrode) for the detection potential and 10 min for the incubation time, respectively. In order to enhance the ratio of signal to noise, the shape and size of the working electrode, the shape of detection end of the capillary, and the capillary/electrode alignment method were studied in detail. When a single carbon fiber microcylinder electrode of 6 μm, a capillary of 10 μm ID with the etched detection end and the in‐capillary alignment were used, a ymol mass limit of detection for alkaline phosphatase was achieved.     

Simultaneous Determination of Hydroquinone and Catechol at a Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes

A simply and high selectively electrochemical method for simultaneous determination of hydroquinone and catechol has been developed at a glassy carbon electrode modified with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT). It was found that the oxidation peak separation of hydroquinone and catechol and the oxidation currents of hydroquinone and catechol greatly increase at MWNT modified electrode in 0.20 M acetate buffer solution (pH 4.5). The oxidation peaks of hydroquinone and catechol merge into a large peak of 302 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl, 3 M NaCl) at bare glassy carbon electrode. The two corresponding well‐defined oxidation peaks of hydroquinone in the presence of catechol at MWNT modified electrode occur at 264 mV and 162 mV, respectively. Under the optimized condition, the oxidation peak current of hydroquinone is linear over a range from 1.0×10^?6 M to 1.0×10^?4 M hydroquinone in the presence of 1.0×10^?4 M catechol with the detection limit of 7.5×10^?7 M and the oxidation peak current of catechol is linear over a range from 6.0×10^?7 M to 1.0×10^?4 M catechol in the presence of 1.0×10^?4 M hydroquinone with the detection limit of 2.0×10^?7 M. The proposed method has been applied to simultaneous determination of hydroquinone and catechol in a water sample with simplicity and high selectivity.     

Molecular chemisorption at well-defined Pd(111) electrode surfaces: hydroquinone sulfonate studied by UHV-EC-STM

The chemisorption of 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonate (hydroquinone sulfonate, HQS) from dilute aqueous solutions, onto a well-defined Pd(111) electrode surface has been studied by a combination of Auger electron spectroscopy, high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy and electrochemistry. The results indicate that HQS is oxidatively chemisorbed and exists on the surface as benzoquinone sulfonate (BQS); it is oriented essentially parallel to the surface with a slight tilt due to the bulky SO₃⁻ group. The H⁺ counter-ions in the ionic adlayer can be exchanged reversibly and quantitatively by K⁺ or Cs⁺ ions without changes in the structure and coverage of the surface-anchored species.     

Electrochemical Studies of Oxidation of Lomefloxacin and Interaction with Calf Thymus DNA at Nano‐SnO2/DHP Modified Electrode

A nanoparticle thin film modified electrode has been constructed using a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) coated with a nano‐tin oxide/dihexadecylphosphate (nano‐SnO₂/DHP). In pH 6.0 phosphate buffer solutions (PBS), lomefloxacin (LMF) appeared as an anodic peak with peak potential of 1.35 V at nano‐SnO₂/DHP modified electrode. In comparison with a bare GCE or a nano‐SnO₂ modified electrode, the nano‐SnO₂/DHP modified electrode exhibited an enhanced effectiveness for the oxidation of LMF. Cyclic voltammetry (CVs) coupled with fluorescence and UV/vis absorbance spectra techniques were used to study the interaction of LMF with Calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) in phosphate buffer solutions (PBS). The interaction of LMF and ctDNA could result in a considerable decrease in the peak currents and positive shift in the peak potential, as well as changes of fluorescence, UV/vis adsorption spectra and gel electrophoresis. All the acquired data showed that the new adduct between LMF and ctDNA was formed. Electrochemistry coupled with spectroscopy techniques could provide a relatively easy way to obtain useful information about the molecular mechanism of LMF‐ctDNA interactions.     

Benzoquinone modified electrode for sensing NADH and ascorbic acid

A benzoquinone modified basal plane pyrolytic graphite electrode shows electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of NADH and ascorbic acid in phosphate buffer (pH 7.3). The modified electrode shows a linear variation of catalytic current with concentration in the range 1-10 mM for both NADH and ascorbic acid. The rate constants have been estimated from the surface coverage data.