Electrocatalytic and antifouling properties of CeO2-glassy carbon electrodes

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Binary metal oxides with different degrees of covalent/ionic character of the oxygen-metal bond are tested as a partial coating of glassy carbon electrode...     

Micro-Raman analysis of titanium oxide/carbon nanotubes-based nanocomposites for hydrogen sensing applications

Titanium oxide/carbon nanotubes-based nanocomposites (TiO₂/CNTs, prepared by sol-gel method, and 2%Pt/TiO₂/CNTs, obtained by wetness impregnation of the TiO₂/CNTs base material with a solution of platinum acetylacetonate) have been recently used as active layer in hydrogen sensing devices at near room temperature, obtaining quite different responsiveness. The microstructure of these hybrid materials is here systematically investigated by micro-Raman spectroscopy at 2.41 eV. The results show that regardless of the nominal C/Ti molar ratio (3.6 or 17.0) only the anatase phase of titania is formed. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that phonon confinement is fully responsible for the large blue-shift (∼10 cm⁻¹) and broadening (∼20 cm⁻¹) of the lowest-frequency Raman mode with respect to bulk anatase. The average size (4.3-5.0 nm) of TiO₂ crystallites, resulting from Raman spectra fitting, is in excellent agreement with those inferred from transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements.     

Electrocatalytic properties of La0.9Sr0.1MnO3-based electrodes for oxygen reduction

Electrochemical reduction of oxygen at the interface between a La_0.9Sr_0.1MnO₃ (LSM)-based electrode and an electrolyte, either yttria-stabilized-zirconia (YSZ) or La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.9Mg_0.1O₃ (LSGM), has been investigated using DC polarization, impedance spectroscopy, and potential step methods at temperatures from 1053 to 1173 K. Results show that the mechanism of oxygen reduction at an LSM/electrolyte interface changes with the type of electrolyte. At an LSM/YSZ interface, the apparent cathodic charge transfer coefficient is about 1 at high temperatures, implying that the rate-determining step (r.d.s.) is the diffusion of partially reduced oxygen species, while at an LSM/LSGM interface the cathodic charge transfer coefficient is about 0.5, implying that the r.d.s. is the donation of electrons to atomic oxygen. The relaxation behavior of the LSM/electrolyte interfaces displays an even more dramatic dependence on the type of electrolyte. Under cathodic polarization, the current passing through an LSM/YSZ interface increases with time whereas that through an LSM/LSGM interface decreases with time, further confirming that it is the triple phase boundaries (TPBs), rather than the surface of the LSM or the LSM/gas interface, that dominate the electrode kinetics when LSM is used as an electrode. Electronic Publication     

Electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen on the surface of glassy carbon electrodes modified with plumbagin

The preparation and electrochemical characterization of glassy carbon electrodes modified with plumbagin were investigated by employing cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and rotating disc electrode techniques. The cyclic voltammograms of the electroreduction of oxygen showed an enhanced current peak at approximately −0.289 V in air-saturated phosphate buffer pH = 7 and scan rate 10 mV s⁻¹. The thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the reduction of oxygen at glassy carbon have been evaluated using cyclic voltammetry. The experimental parameters were optimized and the mechanism of the catalytic process was discussed. The obtained values of E°′ (V vs. Ag/AgCl), the apparent electron transfer rate constant k_s (s⁻¹), heterogeneous rate constant for the reduction of O₂ at the surface of the modified electrode k_h (M⁻¹ s⁻¹) and α (charge transfer coefficient of oxygen) were as follows: −0.146, 23.4, 9.9 × 10³ and 0.57, respectively. In addition, plumbagin exhibited strong catalytic activity toward the reduction of H₂O₂.     

Electrochemical method for the preparation nanocomposites based on carbon nanotubes and chromium oxides for oxygen electrodes

An electrochemical method for the preparation of nanostructured composites based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes and chromium oxide is proposed. The method involves electrodeposition of chromium oxides from a solution of hexavalent chromium oxide in sulfuric acid on carbon nanotubes. By varying the electrolysis conditions one can obtain deposited—catalyst particles of different size and vary the amount of catalyst. Oxygen electrodes have been made from the materials obtained for fuel cells with alkaline electrolyte, which showed good electrocatalytic properties.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH on carbon black electrodes

Differential electrochemical mass spectroscopy (DEMS) was used to obtain information about the strongly adsorbed intermediate during methanol electrooxidation on platinum in sulfuric acid. It turned out that three electrons are released upon oxidation of one adsorbate molecule to CO₂. In the presence of oxygen, however, the number of electrons was determined to be between 2 and 2.5. Therefore CO can be excluded as the intermediate during methanol oxidation. COH seems to be the more likely adsorbate involved in the reaction pathway.     

Electrocatalytic properties of nanocomposites based on conducting polymers and titanium dioxide in oxygen reduction process

Electrochemical characteristics and electrocatalytic properties in the oxygen reduction reaction are studied on hybrid nanocomposites based on conducting polymers (polyaniline, polypyrrol) doped with phosphomolybdic acid (PMA), and TiO₂ and also their bifunctional analogs containing up to 5 wt % of nanosize platinum. It is found that the obtained nanocomposites in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ are capable of reversible electro-chemical redox transitions (in the range of potentials from ?0.6 to 1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl), in which the main contribution is provided by the corresponding conducting polymer and dopant (PMA). It is shown that activity of the studied nanocomposites in the oxygen reduction reaction is caused by the joint catalytic effect of all their components: the polymer, TiO₂, H₃PMo₁₂O₄0, Pt.     

Electrocatalytic detection of insulin at RuOx/carbon nanotube-modified carbon electrodes

A bilayer surface coating, prepared by electrodepositing ruthenium oxide (RuOx) onto a carbon nanotube (CNT) layer, offers dramatic improvements in the stability and sensitivity of voltammetric and amperometric measurements of insulin compared to the individual (CNT or RuOx) coated electrodes. The enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards insulin is indicated from lowering the potential of the oxidation process (starting around 0.35 versus Ag/AgCl) and the substantially higher sensitivity over the entire potential range. A wide linear dynamic range (10-800 nM) was achieved with a detection limit of 1 nM. The marked electrocatalytic activity of the RuOx/CNT coating towards insulin is coupled with a greatly enhanced stability. For example, the insulin amperometric response of the RuOx/CNT-coated electrodes is highly stable, with 97% of the initial activity remaining after 60 min stirring of 2 × 10⁻⁶ M solution (compared to significantly faster current diminutions at the RuOx- or CNT-coated surfaces). The results suggest great promise for miniaturized sensors and detectors for monitoring insulin.     

Thermal decomposition kinetics of multiwalled carbon nanotube/polypropylene nanocomposites

In this study, non-isothermal crystallization of neat high density polyethylene (HDPE) and HDPE/titanium dioxide (TiO₂) composite was studied using differential scanning calorimetry. Non-isothermal kinetic parameters were determined by Jeziorny approach and Mo’s method. Polarized optical microscopy and wide angle X-ray diffraction were applied to observe the crystal morphology and investigate the crystal structure, respectively. It was found TiO₂ particles could act as nucleating agent during the crystallization process and accelerate the crystallization rate. The Avrami index indicated nucleating type and growth of spherulite of HDPE was relatively simple. The result of activation energy indicated it was more and more difficult for the polymer chains to crystallize into the crystal lattice as the crystallization progressed. HDPE/TiO₂ composites exhibited lower ΔE values, suggesting TiO₂ particle could make the crystallization of HDPE easier. HDPE/TiO₂ composites had much smaller spherulite size than that of neat HDPE. HDPE formed more perfect crystal when TiO₂ particles were added into its matrix without changing the original crystal structure of HDPE.     

Determination of catecolamines on electrodes modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes

The electrochemical behavior of several biologically active catecolamines in studied on a glassy carbon electrode with the surface preliminarily modified by a composite film containing preliminarily carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT). The coatings are characterized by the methods of cyclic voltammetry and scanning microscopy. It is shown that the use of hybrid composites prepared by immobilizing MWNT and gold nanoparticles into the film of poly(isonicotinic) acid provides the high diffusion permeability of the surface layers and the efficiency of the electron transfer as regards catecolamines. The possibility of using these electrodes for selective determination of these substances in drugs widely used in the modern practical medicine is demonstrated.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH at mesoporous carbon modified electrodes

The electrochemical oxidation of β-nicotinamine adenine dinucleotide (NADH) was investigated at a glassy carbon electrode modified with carbon mesoporous materials (CMM). Due to the large surface area and electro-catalytic properties of CMM, the overpotential of the electrodes toward the oxidation of NADH is decreased by 595 mV in aqueous solution at neutral pH. The anodic peak currents increase steadily with the concentration of NADH in the range from 2 µM to 1.1 mM, the detection limit being 1.0 µM at pH 7.2 and a potential of +0.3 V vs. SCE. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant is ～21.5 μM. The results enable NADH to be sensed at a low potential and are promising with respect to the design of dehydrogenase-based amperometric biosensors.     

纳米金修饰玻碳电极对儿茶酚的催化氧化

研究了电沉积纳米金修饰玻碳电极对儿茶酚的催化氧化,发现该修饰电极使儿茶酚的氧化电位大大降低,峰电流显著增大并且线性范围较宽;讨论了酸度、沉积量、扫速等条件对儿茶酚在纳米金修饰玻碳电极上催化氧化的影响。该电极制备简单,重现性好,用于儿茶酚的定量分析,发现儿茶酚氧化峰电流与浓度在2.0×10-6~1.2×10-2mol/L范围内呈良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.9965,检出限(3σ)为3.2×10-7mol/L;用于样品检测,效果较好。     

Enhanced mechanical and thermal properties of poly(l-lactide) nanocomposites assisted by polydopamine-coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Herein, a facile and noncovalent modification for multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) is adopted by the self-polymerization of dopamine (DOPA). And, the polydopamine-coated MWNTs (D-MWNTs) were further incorporated into poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) matrix through the solvent-casting method. It is found that the D-MWNTs tend to be well dispersed in PLLA matrix than the pristine MWNTs and the D-MWNTs that can act as heterogeneous nucleators that evidently affect the morphology and crystallization behavior of PLLA. In addition, the significant improvement of dispersion and the interface interaction of PLLA/D-MWNTs, via dopamine coating between the MWNTs and PLLA matrix, results in enhanced mechanical and thermal properties and electrical conductivity. This facile methodology is believed to afford broad application potential in carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-based polymer nanocomposites.     

Rheological signatures of ethylene methyl acrylate‐multiwalled carbon nanotube nanocomposites

The rheological behavior of nanocomposites based on multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) with three commercial grades of ethylene methyl acrylate (EMA) copolymers containing 9, 24, and 30 wt% methyl acrylate (MA) was investigated under dynamic and steady shear flow (in a capillary) conditions. Storage modulus (in dynamic shear) value increases especially at higher frequency levels due to increased polymer‐filler interactions. Both the unfilled and filled composites exhibit rheological behavior of non‐Newtonian fluids. In both steady shear and capillary flow, the nanocomposites register a slightly higher viscosity than neat EMAs, with dependence on the MWNTs content. All systems with various loading of MWNTs represent an increase in elastic response with increasing frequency. The die swell decreases with the MWNTs loading. Dynamic and steady shear rheological properties register a good correlation in regard to the viscous versus elastic response of such systems inline with the Cox–Merz concept. Increased MA content leads to inferior dispersion of MWNTs in EMA matrix. Morphological studies exhibit that MWNTs become more aligned along longitudinal direction after extrusion leading to improved dispersion. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of different treatment methods of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on thermal and flexural properties of their epoxy nanocomposites

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were oxidized using four different acid‐treatment methods followed by their functionalization with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3‐APTES). Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) nanocomposites with unmodified and silanized MWCNTs (0.2 wt %) were prepared by a cast molding method. The effect of functionalization of MWCNTs on thermal, flexural, and morphological properties of the epoxy nanocomposites were studied. The epoxy/MWCNTs nanocomposites were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, flexural testing, and field emission electron microscopic analysis. The results showed that the silanization of MWCNTs which were oxidized by a two‐step process using nitric acid and hydrochloric acid showed better thermal and flexural properties due to good interfacial adhesion between MWCNTs and the epoxy matrix. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1175–1184, 2010     

Electrode modification using nanocomposites of electropolymerised cobalt phthalocyanines supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - A polymer of tetra(4)-(4,6-diaminopyrimidin-2-ylthio) phthalocyaninatocobalt(II) (CoPyPc) has been deposited over a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)...     

Thermal degradation and kinetic analysis of biodegradable PBS/multiwalled carbon nanotube nanocomposites

In this study, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were first modified using N,N′‐ dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) dehydrating agents. Subsequently, the poly(butylene succinate)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (PBS/MWNTs) nanocomposites were prepared through facile melt blending. Thermal degradation of these PBS/MWNT nanocomposites was investigated; the kinetic parameters of degradation were calculated using the Coats and Redfern, Ozawa, and Horowitz and Metzger methods, respectively. It was found that the degradation reaction mechanism of PBS and the CNT‐C18 containing nanocomposites at lower temperature was likely to produce an F1 model through reaction of random chain cleavage (cis‐elimination). However, the reaction mechanism at higher temperature was likely to be a D1 model because of the dominant diffusion control effect. Moreover, it was found that the activation energies of CNT‐C18‐containing PBS nanocomposites were first increased with the content of CNT‐C18, but then decreased after the content was larger than 0.5 wt % for all models at differing heating rates. This may be due to the formation of a conductive network of CNTs in the polymer matrix at higher content of CNTs, which lead to better heat and electrical conductivity. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 1231–1239, 2009     

Surface structure and adsorption properties of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

The pore structure, sorption parameters, and chemical composition of the surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes synthesized by catalytic pyrolysis were determined. The dependences of the amount of cholic acid adsorbed by the nanotube surface on time, pH, and concentration of an equilibrium solution were studied. Physical adsorption of cholic acid is mainly the outcome of nonspecific interactions between the acid and the surface of the nanotubes. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1712–1715, October, 2006.     

Physical and electronic properties in multiwalled carbon nanotube–poly(3‐dodecylthiophene) nanocomposites

The properties of nanocomposites of dodecyl ester functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (FMWNT) and four poly(3‐dodecyl thiophene) (P3DDT) samples with different molecular weight and chain regioregularity are reported here. Uniform dispersion of FMWNT in the composites is evident from TEM study. π–π and CH–π interactions are evident from FTIR spectra in the low molecular weight (M_w = 8 × 10⁴) and high regiorandom (head‐tail = 69 mol %) P3DDT (ILM) composites; however, such interactions are not so prominent for other P3DDTs. Wide‐angle X‐ray scattering patterns indicate intact interchain lamellar structure of P3DDT in the composites. DSC study shows decrease of main chain melting peak of P3DDT (ILM) with increasing F‐MWNT content but the decrease is lower with higher molecular weight and higher regioregular samples. Dynamic mechanical analyzer study indicates that there is no significant change in the T_g, T_β, and T_γ transition temperature with FMWNT concentration indicating almost ideal mixing of the components. The percent increase of G′ increases with increasing FMWNT loading and also with temperature showing an 84% increase in storage modulus at –20 °C for ILM12 samples. The UV–vis spectrum indicates a decrease in band gap with FMWNT concentration for ILM composites, however, it is negligible with other P3DDTs. Photoluminescence quenching and multiple emission peaks occur in the composites. dc‐Conductivity of the composites increases by two orders and current‐voltage (I–V) curves show memory effect only in ILM‐MWNT composites. The I–V curves of other P3DDT nanocomposites exhibit rectification property. Quantitative explanation of electronic properties has been afforded from the band energy and work function values. So, the electronic properties of the nanocomposite can be tuned by changing the molecular weight, regioregularity, and concentration of FMWNT. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 1412–1425, 2009     

抗坏血酸在普鲁士蓝修饰的丝网印刷电极上的电催化氧化

制备了普鲁士蓝修饰的丝网印刷电极,研究了该修饰电极对抗坏血酸的催化氧化作用。在pH5.0的0.2mol/L磷酸盐缓冲溶液中,修饰电极对抗坏血酸显示出快速的电化学响应,较高的稳定性、重现性和催化活性,测定的线性范围为5.0×10-6～8.0×10-3mol/L,相关系数为0.998,检出限为3.0×10-6mol/L(3σ)。已对实际样品进行了测定。