Direct electrochemistry with enhanced electrocatalytic activity of hemoglobin in hybrid modified electrodes composed of graphene and multi-walled carbon nanotubes

A graphene (GR) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) hybrid was prepared and modified on a 1-hexylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate based carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE). Hemoglobin (Hb) was immobilized on GR-MWCNT/CILE surface with Nafion as the film forming material and the modified electrode was denoted as Nafion/Hb-GR-MWCNT/CILE. Spectroscopic results revealed that Hb molecules retained its native structure in the GR-MWCNT hybird. Electrochemical behaviors of Hb were carefully investigated by cyclic voltammetry with a pair of well-defined redox peaks obtained, which indicated that direct electron transfer of Hb was realized in the hybrid modified electrode. The result could be attributed to the synergistic effects of GR-MWCNT hybrid with enlarged surface area and improved conductivity through the formation of a three-dimensional network. Electrochemical parameters of the immobilized Hb on the electrode surface were further calculated with the results of the electron transfer number (n) as 1.03, the charge transfer coefficient (a) as 0.58 and the electron-transfer rate constant (k_s) as 0.97 s⁻¹. The Hb modified electrode showed good electrocatalytic ability toward the reduction of different substrates such as trichloroacetic acid in the concentration range from 0.05 to 38.0 mmol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.0153 mmol L⁻¹ (3σ), H₂O₂ in the concentration range from 0.1 to 516.0 mmol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 34.9 nmol/L (3σ) and NaNO₂ in the concentration range from 0.5 to 650.0 mmol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.282 μmol L⁻¹ (3σ). So the proposed electrode had the potential application in the third-generation electrochemical biosensors without mediator.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin entrapped in composite matrix based on chitosan and CaCO3 nanoparticles

The direct electron transfer between hemoglobin (Hb) and the underlying glassy carbon electrode (GCE) can be readily achieved via a high biocompatible composite system based on biopolymer chitosan (CHT) and inorganic CaCO₃ nanoparticles (nano-CaCO₃). Cyclic voltammetry of Hb-CHT/nano-CaCO₃/GCE showed a pair of stable and quasi-reversible peaks for HbFe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple in pH 7.0 buffer. The electrochemical reaction of Hb immobilized in CHT/nano-CaCO₃ composite matrix exhibited a surface-controlled process accompanied by electron and proton transfer. The electron transfer rate constant was estimated to be 1.8 s⁻¹. This modified electrode showed a high thermal stability up to 60 °C. The apparent Michaelis–Menten constant was calculated to be 7.5 × 10⁻⁴ M, indicating a high catalytic activity of the immobilized Hb toward H₂O₂. The interaction between Hb and this nano-hybrid material was also investigated using FT-IR and UV–vis spectroscopy, indicating that Hb retained its native structure in this hybrid matrix.     

血红蛋白在海藻酸钠膜中的电化学和电催化行为

用海藻酸钠(SodiumAlginate,SA)将血红蛋白(Hb)固定在热裂解石墨电极表面,制备了Hb SA膜修饰电极。包埋在海藻酸钠膜中的血红蛋白与电极直接传递电子。在pH7.0的磷酸盐缓冲溶液中可得到一对可逆的血红蛋白辅基血红素Fe(Ⅲ) Fe(Ⅱ)电对氧化还原峰,式电势为-0.364V(vs.SCE)。其式电势随溶液pH值增加而负移且成线性关系,直线斜率为-36.0mV pH,说明血红蛋白的电子传递过程伴随有质子的转移。并研究了Hb SA膜修饰电极对O2、H2O2和NO的电催化性质。     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin based on poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) functionalized graphene sheets/room temperature ionic liquid composite film

The functionalized graphene nanosheets (PDDA-G) with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) were synthesized and used to combine with room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL). The resulting RTIL/PDDA-G composite displayed an enhanced capability for the immobilization of hemoglobin to realize its direct electrochemistry. Moreover, the RTIL/PDDA-G based biosensor exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity for the detection of nitrate with a wide linear range from 0.2 to 32.6 μM and a low detection limit of 0.04 μM at 3σ. This work opens a new way to functionalized graphene nanosheets with good biocompatibility and solubility in biosensors.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin immobilized in a magnetic nanoparticles-chitosan film

Magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) were synthesized by a chemical coprecipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used to confirm the crystallite structure and the particle's radius. The Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and chitosan (CS) were mixed to form a matrix in which haemoglobin (Hb) can be immobilized for the fabrication of H₂O₂ biosensor. The Fe₃O₄-CS-Hb film exhibited a pair of well-defined and quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetric peaks due to the redox of Hb-heme Fe (III)/Fe (II) in a pH 7.0 phosphate buffer. The formal potential of Hb-heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple varied linearly with the increase of pH in the range of 4.0-10.0 with a slope of 46.5 mV pH⁻¹, indicating that electron transfer was accompanied with single proton transportation in the electrochemical reaction. The surface coverage of Hb immobilized on Fe₃O₄-CS film glassy carbon electrode was about 1.13 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol cm⁻². The heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k_s) was 1.04 s⁻¹, indicating great facilitation of the electron transfer between Hb and magnetic nanoparticles-chitosan modified electrode. The modified electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen and hydrogen peroxide reduction. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant for H₂O₂ was estimated to be 38.1 μmol L⁻¹.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin in gelatine film modified glassy carbon electrode

Direct electrochemical and electrocatalytic behavior of hemoglobin (Hb) immobilized on glass carbon electrode (GCE) containing gelatine (Gel) films was investigated. The characteristics of Hb/Gel film modified GC electrode were performed by using SEM microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy and electrochemical methods. The immobilized Hb showed a couple of quasi-reversible redox peak with a formal potential of −0.38 V (versus SCE) in 0.1 M pH 7.0 PBS. The formal potential changed linearly from pH 4.03 to 8.41 with a slope value of −52.0 mV pH⁻¹, which suggested that a proton transfer was accompanied with each electron transfer (ET) in the electrochemical reaction. The Hb/gelatine/GCE displayed a rapid amperometric response to the reduction of H₂O₂ and nitrite.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin entrapped in semi-interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel based on polyacrylamide and chitosan

Semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) hydrogel based on polyacrylamide (PAM) and chitosan was prepared to immobilize redox protein hemoglobin (Hb). The Hb-PAM-chitosan hydrogel film obtained has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-VIS spectroscopy. UV-VIS spectroscopy showed that Hb kept its secondary structure similar to its native state in the Hb-PAM-chitosan hydrogel film. Cyclic voltammogram of Hb-PAM-chitosan film-modified glass carbon (GC) electrode showed a pair of well-defined and quasi-reversible redox peaks for Hb Fe(III)/Fe(II), indicating that direct electron transfer between Hb and GC electrode occurred. The electron-transfer rate constant was about 5.51 s(-1) in pH 7.0 buffers, and the formal potential (E degrees ') was -0.324 V (vs. SCE). The dependence of E degrees ' on solution pH indicated that one-proton transfer was coupled to each electron transfer in the direct electron-transfer reaction. Additionally, Hb in the semi-IPN hydrogel film retained its bioactivity and showed excellent electrocatalytic activity toward H(2)O(2). The electrocatalytic current values were linear with increasing concentration of H(2)O(2) in a wide range of 5-420 microM. The unique semi-IPN hydrogel would have wide potential applications in direct electrochemistry, biosensors and biocatalysis.     

琼脂糖水凝胶固定化血红素蛋白质的电化学研究

利用琼脂糖（agarose）水凝胶将肌红蛋白（Mb）、血红蛋白（Hb）、辣根过氧化物酶（HRP）和过氧化氢酶（Cat）4种血红素蛋白质固定在裂解石墨电极表面,形成稳定的血红素蛋白质-agarose膜修饰电极。在agarose膜中,Mb、Hb、HRP和Cat直接与电极传递电子。4种血红素蛋白质的式电势都随溶液pH的增加而负移且呈线性关系,表明电子传递过程伴随着质子转移。     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalytic characteristic of heme proteins immobilized in a new sol-gel polymer film

Heme proteins were immobilized on glass carbon electrodes by poly (N-isopropylac-yamide-co-3-methacryloxy-propyl-trimethoxysilane) (PNM) and exhibited a pair of well-defined, quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetric peaks at about -0.35 V versus a saturated calomel electrode in pH 7.0 buffer solution, corresponding to hemeFe(III)+e-->hemeFe(II). Some electrochemical parameters were calculated by performing nonlinear regression analysis of square wave voltammetry (SWV) experimental data. The formal potential was linearly dependent on pH, indicating the electron transfer of Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple accompanied by the transfer of proton. Ultraviolet visible and Fourier transform infrared spectra suggested that the conformation of proteins in the PNM films retained the essential feature of its native secondary structure. Atomic force microscopy images demonstrated the existence of interaction between heme proteins and PNM. N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) played an important role in immobilizing proteins and enhancing electron transfer between proteins and electrodes. Electrochemical catalytic reductions of hydrogen peroxide and trichloroacetic acid by proteins entrapped in PNM film were also discussed, showing the potential applicability of the film modified electrodes as a biosensor.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of horseradish peroxidase immobilized in Nafion-RTIL composite film

The composite film based on Nafion and hydrophobic room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim] PF₆) was explored. Here, Nafion was used as a binder to form Nafion-ionic liquids composite film and help [bmim] PF₆ effectively adhered on glassy carbon (GC) electrode. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), cyclic voltammtery (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to characterize this composite film, showing that the composite film can effectively adhere on the GC electrode surface through Nafion interacting with [bmim] PF₆ and GC electrode. Meanwhile, doping [bmim] PF₆ in Nafion can also effectively reduce the electron transfer resistance of Nafion. The composite film can be readily used as an immobilization matrix to entrap horseradish peroxidase (HRP). A pair of well-defined redox peaks of HRP was obtained at the HRP/Nafion-[bmim] PF₆ composite film-modified GC electrode through direct electron transfer between the protein and the underlying electrode. HRP can still retain its biological activity and enhance electrochemical reduction towards O₂ and H₂O₂. It is expected that this composite film may find more potential applications in biosensors and biocatalysis.     

Direct electrochemistry of glucose oxidase entrapped in nano gold particles-ionic liquid-N,N-dimethylformamide composite film on glassy carbon electrode and glucose sensing

The direct electrochemistry of glucose oxidase (GOD) entrapped in nano gold particles (NAs)-N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)-1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluophosphate (BMIMPF₆) composite film on a glassy carbon electrode (NAs-DMF-GOD (BMIMPF₆)/GC) has been investigated for first time. The immobilized GOD exhibits a pair of well-defined reversible peaks in 0.050 M pH 5 phosphate solutions (PS), resulting from the redox of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) in GOD. The peak currents are three times as large as those of GOD-NAs-DMF film coated GC electrode (i.e. NAs-DMF-GOD (water)/GC). In addition, the NAs-DMF-GOD (BMIMPF₆) composite material has higher thermal stability than NAs-DMF-GOD (water). Results show that ionic liquid BMIMPF₆, DMF and NAs are requisite for GOD to exhibit a pair of stable and reversible peaks. Without any of them, the peaks of GOD become small and unstable. Upon the addition of glucose, the peak currents of GOD decrease and a new cathodic peak occurs at −0.8 V (versus SCE), which corresponds to the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) generated by the catalytic oxidation of glucose. The peak current of the new cathodic peak and the glucose concentration show a linear relationship in the ranges of 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ M and 2.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 2.0 × 10⁻⁵ M. The kinetic parameter I_max of H₂O₂ is estimated to be 1.19 × 10⁻⁶ A and the apparent K_m (Michaelis-Menten constant) for the enzymatic reaction is 3.49 μM. This method has been successfully applied to the determination of glucose in human plasma and beer samples, and the average recoveries are 97.2% and 99%, respectively.     

Direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin on a room temperature ionic liquid modified electrode and its electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of oxygen

A room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([EMIm][BF₄]), was successfully immobilized on the surface of a basal plane graphite (BPG) electrode through silica sol and Nafion film to form a sol/RTIL/Nafion modified electrode. Direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin (Hb), which was adsorbed on the surface of sol/RTIL/Nafion modified electrode, was investigated. The results from cyclic voltammetry (CV) suggested that Hb could be tightly adsorbed on the surface of the electrode. A couple of well-defined and quasi-reversible CV peaks of Hb can be observed in a phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0). RTIL shows an obvious promotion for the direct electro-transfer between Hb and electrode. Hb adsorbed on electrode surface exhibits an obvious electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of oxygen O₂. The reduction peak currents were proportional linearly to the concentration of oxygen in the range 0.14–1.82 μM. A third generation biosensor based on RTIL can be constructed for the determination of O₂.     

电化学还原氧化石墨烯用于四环素电催化检测

四环素(TTC)因其广泛的抗菌性和低生产成本等特点而成为应用最广泛的兽医药物. TTC的大量使用不可避免地导致其进入地表水、地下水和污水处理厂.迄今,已有许多方法用于TTC检测,包括免疫测定法、微生物检测法和化学-物理法等.然而,这些方法费用高,耗时长或需要复杂的样品预处理过程,不适合现场测量或常规分析.电化学分析法具有操作简单、成本低廉、选择性和灵敏度较高、易实现在线检测等特点,在检测领域具有重要优势.石墨烯在电化学传感器领域表现出优越的应用性能,但有关石墨烯材料应用于电分析和电催化方面的报道仍然有限.石墨烯的前驱体氧化石墨烯(GO)片层底面上具有各种类型的含氧官能团和层状边缘,导致其绝缘并具有很多缺陷,使GO包含了sp2和sp3杂化碳原子,为GO提供了独特的具有化学功能的异构电子结构.通过对GO进行还原,可以生成新的sp2域或者改变含氧官能团的数量和类型,从而为GO提供更多的特殊性质.研究表明,电化学还原是一种绿色快速的还原方法,可以控制GO的还原程度和还原过程.本文利用电化学还原法来调整GO表面的官能团和缺陷度,利用在–0.8 V还原电位下得到的电化学还原氧化石墨烯(ERGO-0.8V)修饰玻碳电极(GC)为工作电极(GC/ERGO-0.8V),采用循环伏安法对溶解在pH=3的缓冲溶液中的TTC进行电化学检测,发现ERGO-0.8V对TTC具有电催化性能.利用红外光谱(FT-IR)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)和拉曼光谱对ERGO-0.8V, ERGO-1.2V, GO及化学还原得到的石墨烯(CRGO)表面官能团和缺陷程度进行了表征,考察了TTC在ERGO-0.8V/GC上的电化学行为,对其电催化还原机理进行了推测.结果表明,与GO, ERGO-1.2V及CRGO修饰电极相比, GC/ERGO-0.8V修饰电极的催化还原峰在0–0.5 V,对TTC表现出独特的电催化性能, GC/ERGO-0.8V电极对浓度为0.1–120 mg/L的TTC溶液具有良好的检测性能,在不同浓度范围内其氧化峰峰电流与峰电位的线性关系不同. FT-IR和XPS结果显示,在–0.8 V还原电位下得到的ERGO-0.8V,其官能团类型和数量发生变化,但仍存在大量官能团,主要是羧基、羟基和环氧基.同时,拉曼表征显示ERGO-0.8V的缺陷密度增大,同时新生成的sp2域减小而使得ERGO的sp2域减小.对比GO等其他材料的表征结果推测,官能团变化是影响ERGO独特电催化性质的主要因素,除此之外还有材料的缺陷度和sp2域.推测GC/ERGO-0.8V修饰电极对TTC可能的催化机理为： TTC在GC/ERGO电极上的还原与氢醌和醌之间的转换有关;而对于ERGO,则可能对应于羧基和羟基之间的转化.然而,同样具有羧基和羟基的ERGO-1.2V则对TTC没有产生电催化作用.其原因可能是在–0.8到–1.2 V还原电位下,形成的羧基位于石墨烯片层内部,而片层内的电子传递较慢.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis with hemoglobin in water-soluble quantum dots film on glassy carbon electrode

The direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin can be performed by immobilizing hemoglobin in a water-soluble quantum dots (CdSe-ZnS) film on glassy carbon electrode.     

Direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin in a nafion and CuS microsphere modified carbon ionic liquid electrode and its electrocatalytic behavior

Direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin (Hb) was realized on a Nafion and CuS microsphere composite film modified carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE) with N-butylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate (BPPF6) as binder. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry were used to characterize the fabricated Nafion/CuS/Hb/CILE. Experimental results showed that a pair of well-defined quasi-reversible redox peaks appeared with the formal potential as ?0.386 V (vs. SCE) in pH 7.0 Britton-Robinson (B-R) buffer solution, which was attributed to the Hb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couples. The electrochemical parameters of Hb in the composite film were carefully investigated with the charge transfer coefficient (α), the electron transfer number (n) and the electron transfer rate constant (k _s) as 0.505, 1.196 and 0.610 s^?1, respectively. The composite film provided a favorable microenvironment for retaining the native structure of Hb. The presence of CuS microspheres showed great improvement on the electron transfer rate of Hb with the CILE, which maybe due to the contribution of specific characteristics of CuS microspheres and the inherent advantages of ionic liquid on the modified electrode. The fabricated Hb modified electrode showed good electrocatalytic ability in the reduction of H₂O₂. The proposed bioelectrode can be used as a new third generation H₂O₂ biosensor.     

Direct electrochemistry and enzymatic activity of hemoglobin in positively charged colloid Au nanoparticles and hemoglobin layer-by-layer self-assembly films

Alternate adsorption of positively charged colloid-Au nanoparticles (nano-Au⊕) and negatively charged hemoglobin (Hb) on L-cysteine (L-cys) modified gold electrode resulted in the assembly of {Hb/nano-Au⊕}n layer-by-layer films/L-cys modified gold electrode. The nano-Au⊕ was characterized by transmission electron micrograph (TEM) and microelectrophoresis. The modified electrode interface morphology was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), atomic force mi- croscopy (AFM), cyclic voltammograms (CV) and chronoamperometry. Direct electron transfer between hemoglobin and gold electrodes was studied, and the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant ( km app) of the modified electrode was evaluated to be 0.10 mmol·L?1. Moreover, the higher activity of proteins in the nano-Au⊕ films could be retained compared with the electropolymerization membrane, since the pro- teins in nano-Au⊕ films retained their near-native structure. Direct electron transfer between hemoglo- bin and electrode and electrochemically catalyzed reduction of hydrogen peroxide on a modified elec- trode was studied, and the linear range was from 2.1×10-8 to 1.2 ×10?3 mol·L-1 (r = 0.994) with a detection limit of 1.1×10-8 mol·L-1 H2O2.     

Direct electrochemistry and enzymatic activity of hemoglobin immobilized in ordered mesoporous titanium oxide matrix

The novel highly ordered mesoporous titanium oxide (mesoTiO₂) materials, prepared by the “acid–base pairs” route, were firstly used for the immobilization of hemoglobin (Hb) and its bioelectrochemical properties were studied. FTIR and UV–vis spectroscopy demonstrated that Hb in the mesoTiO₂ matrix could retain its native secondary structure. The CV results of Hb/mesoTiO₂-modified electrode showed a pair of well-defined and quasi-reversible redox peaks centered at approximate −0.158 V (vs. SCE) in pH 6.0 phosphate buffer solution. It reflects the characteristic of Hb heme Fe (III)/Fe(II) redox couple with fast heterogeneous electron transfer rate. The immobilized Hb also displayed its good electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of hydrogen peroxide. The results demonstrate that the mesoTiO₂ matrix may improve the protein loading with the retention of bioactivity and greatly promote the direct electron transfer, which can be attributed to its high specific surface area, uniform three-dimensional well-ordered porous structure, suitable pore size and biocompatibility.     

Direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin and its electrocatalytic effect based on its direct immobilization on carbon ionic liquid electrode

Direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin (Hb) has been achieved by its direct immobilization on carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE). CILE was immersed in a solution containing Hb and ionic liquid, octylpyridinium chloride ([OcPy][Cl]), to directly immobilize Hb on CILE. Cyclic voltammetry of modified electrode exhibited quasi-reversible peaks corresponding to Hb. The oxidation and reduction peak potentials of immobilized Hb in acetate buffer solution, pH 5.0 and at a scan rate of 0.1 V s⁻¹ were obtained at about –150 mV and –290 mV, respectively. The average surface coverage of the electroactive Hb adsorbed on the electrode surface was calculated as 8.4 × 10⁻¹¹ mol cm⁻². Hb retained its bioactivity on modified electrode and showed excellent electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen, hydrogen peroxide and nitrite. Hydrogen peroxide can be determined in the range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁴–5.0 × 10⁻³ M.     

肌红蛋白在海藻酸钠水凝胶中的电化学和电催化特性

海藻酸钠(Sodium Alginate,SA)是由L-葡萄糖醛酸与D-甘露糖醛酸组成的高分子线性糖醛酸,常作为固定化酶包埋材料。本文研究了海藻酸钠水凝胶膜中的肌红蛋白在磷酸盐缓冲溶液中的直接电化学和酶催化性质,探讨了测定H2O2和NO2^-的可能性。     

Self-assembled reduced graphene oxide/sulfur composite encapsulated by polyaniline for enhanced electrochemistry performance

Reduced graphene oxide/sulfur/polyaniline (referred to RGO/S/PANI) composite was self-assembled through in situ synthesis and used to investigate the electrochemical properties of lithium/sulfur cells. The RGO/S/PANI composite possessed 809.3/801.9 mAh g^?1 of initial charge/discharge capacities, higher than 588.3/588.2 mAh g^?1 for reduced graphene oxide/sulfur (referred to RGO/S) and 681.4/669.9 mAh g^?1 for sulfur/polyaniline (referred to S/PANI) at similar conditions. The RGO/S/PANI composite obtained 400 mAh g^?1 at 2 C and good reversible capacities of 605.5 and 600.8 mAh g^?1 at 100th charge/discharge cycle at 0.1 C, in comparison with low electrochemical performance of RGO/S and S/PANI. The improved properties could be attributed to the collaboration of RGO and PANI. Co-generation of RGO and sulfur acted as seeds for their depositions, stimulated their uniform distributions, and restricted the agglomeration of sulfur particles in situ synthesis. Polyaniline coated RGO/S and stabilized the nanostructure of RGO/S/PANI in repeated charge/discharge cycles. In addition, RGO and PANI provided many electron channels to enhance sulfur conductivity and sufficient void space for sulfur swelling during charge/discharge cycles.