Efficient photocurrent generation by SnO2 electrode modified electrophoretically with composite clusters of porphyrin-modified silica microparticle and fullerene

A silica microparticle has been successfully employed as a nanoscaffold to self-organize porphyrin and C60 molecules on a nanostructured SnO2 electrode which exhibits efficient photocurrent generation.     

Structure and photoelectrochemical properties of nanostructured SnO2 electrodes deposited electrophoretically with the composite clusters of porphyrin-modified gold nanoparticle with a long spacer and fullerene

Structure and photoelectrochemical properties of nanostructured SnO₂ electrodes deposited electrophoretically with the composite clusters of porphyrin-modified gold nanoparticle with a long, flexible spacer and C₆₀ molecules have been examined to obtain basic information on the development of organic solar cells with a high performance. The photoelectrochemical system with the long, flexible spacer between the porphyrin and the gold nanoparticle in the porphyrin-modified gold nanoparticle exhibited comparable external quantum yield in the UV-vis regions relative to porphyrin-modified gold nanoparticle with a relatively short spacer—C₆₀ composite reference system. These results demonstrate that a suitable spacer to incorporate C₆₀ molecules efficiently between the porphyrins in porphyrin-modified gold nanoparticles is a prerequisite for improving the performance of porphyrin and fullerene-based organic solar cells.     

Effects of porphyrin substituents on film structure and photoelectrochemical properties of porphyrin/fullerene composite clusters electrophoretically deposited on nanostructured SnO2 electrodes

We have systematically examined the substituent effects of meso-tetraphenylporphyrins on film structures and the photoelectrochemical properties of the composite clusters of free-base porphyrin and C(60) electrophoretically deposited on nanostructured SnO(2) electrodes. The photocurrent generation efficiency was found to correlate with the complexation ability of the porphyrin for C(60). Basically, the incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) value was increased with increasing relative amounts of the porphyrin versus C(60) in the films. The unique molecular arrangement of the porphyrin with the simple, specific substituents (i.e., methoxy groups at the meta-positions of the meso-phenyl rings of tetraphenylporphyrins (3,5-OMeTPP; TPP=tetraphenylporphyrin)) and C(60) on SnO(2) electrodes resulted in the largest IPCE value (ca. 60 %) among this type of photoelectrochemical device. The rapid formation of the composite clusters and microcrystals from the combination of 3,5-OMeTPP and C(60) in a mixed solvent is unique as the association is accelerated by intermolecular interactions (i.e., hydrogen-bonding and CH-pi interactions) between the methoxy groups of the porphyrins and the porphyrin/C(60), in addition to the pi-pi interactions between the porphyrins/C(60) and C(60) molecules. Both the films and single crystals composed of the porphyrin and C(60) exhibited remarkably high electron mobility (7x10(-2) and 0.4 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1)), which is comparable to the value for highly efficient bulk heterojunction solar cells. Our experimental results have successfully demonstrated the importance of nanostructured electron- and hole-transporting pathways in bulk heterojunction solar cells. Such a finding will provide basic and valuable information on the design of molecular photovoltaics at the molecular level.     

Hydrogen bonding effects on the surface structure and photoelectrochemical properties of nanostructured SnO2 electrodes modified with porphyrin and fullerene composites

Hydrogen bonding effects on surface structure, photophysical properties, and photoelectrochemistry have been examined in a mixed film of porphyrin and fullerene composites with and without hydrogen bonding on indium tin oxide and nanostructured SnO2 electrodes. The nanostructured SnO2 electrodes modified with the mixed films of porphyrin and fullerene composites with hydrogen bonding exhibited efficient photocurrent generation compared to the reference systems without hydrogen bonding. Atomic force microscopy, infrared reflection absorption, and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopies and time-resolved fluorescence lifetime and transient absorption spectroscopic measurements disclosed the relationship between the surface structure and photophysical and photoelectrochemical properties relating to the formation of hydrogen bonding between the porphyrins and/or the C60 moieties in the films on the electrode surface. These results show that hydrogen bonding is a highly promising methodology for the fabrication of donor and acceptor composites on nanostructured semiconducting electrodes, which exhibit high photoelectrochemical properties.     

Structure and photoelectrochemical properties of phthalocyanine and perylene diimide composite clusters deposited electrophoretically on nanostructured SnO2 electrodes

Clusters of phthalocyanine and phthalocyanine-perylene diimide have been prepared and electrophoretically deposited on nanostructured SnO2 electrodes. The structure and photoelectrochemical properties of the clusters have been investigated by using UV-visible absorption, dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoelectrochemical and photodynamical measurements. Enhancement of the photocurrent generation efficiency in the composite system has been achieved relative to that in the phthalocyanine reference system without the perylene diimide. Such information will be valuable for the design of molecular photoelectrochemical devices that exhibit efficient photocurrent generation.     

Effects of fullerene substituents on structure and photoelectrochemical properties of fullerene nanoclusters electrophoretically deposited on nanostructured SnO2 electrodes

Two kinds of fullerene derivatives have been designed to examine the effect of the fullerene substituents on the structure and photoelectrochemical properties of fullerene clusters electrophoretically deposited on nanostructured SnO(2) electrodes. The cluster sizes increase and the incident photon-to-current efficiencies decrease with introduction of large substituents into C(60). The trend for photocurrent generation efficiency as well as surface morphology on the electrode can be explained by the steric bulkiness around the C(60) molecules. A C(60) molecule with two alkoxy chains is suggested to give a bilayer vesicle structure, irrespective of the hydrophobic nature of both the C(60) and alkoxy chain moieties. Such information will be valuable for the design of photoactive molecules, which are fabricated onto electrode surfaces to exhibit high energy conversion efficiency.     

SnO_(2)/ITO光电化学电极制备及性能研究EI北大核心CSCD

采用商品化氧化铟锡(ITO)导电玻璃、纳米SnO_(2)水胶体分散液,通过旋涂法制备了高性能SnO_(2)/ITO电极,考察了SnO_(2)旋涂浓度、旋涂量、Triton X-100浓度、煅烧温度对SnO_(2)/ITO电极性能的影响,并优化了缓冲体系、pH、浓度及偏压条件。结果表明,当SnO_(2)水胶体分散液浓度15%、Triton X-100浓度0.01%、煅烧温度450℃时,制备的SnO_(2)/ITO电极具有较高的热稳定性和光电化学性能;草酸-草酸钠缓冲体系有利于光电流的产生,当草酸浓度为30 mmol/L(pH 6.0)、偏压为0.5 V时,可以产生较高的稳态光电流信号,以Ru(bpy)_(2)(dppz)^(2+)为光电化学信号探针,检测限为10 nmol/L。考察了ITO电极的性能差异性,同一批次及不同批次之间的光电流信号一致性相对标准偏差(RSD)在3.9%~5.6%之间。     

Structural and electrochemical properties of a porous nanostructured SnO2 film electrode for lithium-ion batteries

A B₂O₃-doped SnO₂ thin film was prepared by a novel experimental procedure combining the electrodeposition and the hydrothermal treatment, and its structure and electrochemical properties were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and galvanostatic charge–discharge tests. It was found that the as-prepared modified SnO₂ film shows a porous network structure with large specific surface area and high crystallinity. The results of electrochemical tests showed that the modified SnO₂ electrode presents the largest reversible capacity of 676 mAh g^?1 at the fourth cycle, close to the theoretical capacity of SnO₂ (790 mAh g^?1); and it still delivers a reversible Li storage capacity of 524 mAh g^?1 after 50 cycles. The reasons that the modified SnO₂ film electrode shows excellent electrochemical properties were also discussed.     

Highly sensitive deoxynivalenol immunosensor based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a fullerene/ferrocene/ionic liquid composite

We describe a sensitive electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of deoxynivalenol (DON). It is based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a composite made from fullerene (C₆₀), ferrocene and the ionic liquid. The components were immobilized on the surface of the electrode using chitosan cross-linked with epichlorohydrin. Then, the antibody to DON was covalently conjugated to the surface which then was blocked with serum albumin. The performance of the immunosensor was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It offers good repeatability (RSD?=?1.2%), selectivity, a stability of more than 180?days, an impedimetric response to DON in the range of 1?pgmL^?1 to 0.3?ng?mL^?1, and a detection limit (at S/N?=?3) of 0.3?pgmL^?1. The limit of detection is better than that of GC, HPLC, GC-MS, HPLC-MS and LC-MS-MS. The effects of omitting C₆₀ or the ionic liquid were also examined. The results indicate that the sensitivity of the biosensor is 2-fold better if C₆₀ and ionic liquids are used. This demonstrates that C₆₀ facilitates electron transfer on the surface of the modified electrode due to its unique electrochemical properties, while the ionic liquid provides a biocompatible microenvironment for the antibody. This results in increased sensitivity and stability. The method was satisfactorily applied to the determination of DON in food samples.

聚中性红/纳米二氧化硅复合修饰电极直接测定抗坏血酸

用滴涂法和电化学聚合法制备了聚中性红/纳米二氧化硅修饰电极(PNR/nano-SiO2/GCE),并用循环伏安法和交流阻抗法研究了修饰电极表面的电化学行为。实验表明,该修饰电极对抗坏血酸(AA)表现出良好的电催化氧化性能,探讨了复合修饰电极协同增效作用的机理。用线性扫描伏安法研究了AA浓度与峰电流之间线性关系,在pH2.0的磷酸盐缓冲溶液中,AA氧化峰电流在1.8×10-6～5.0×10-3mol/L浓度范围内呈良好的线性关系,检出限为5.4×10-7mol/L(S/N=3)。该修饰电极制备简单,可用于药品及果蔬食品中抗坏血酸的直接测定。     

Determination of Sunset Yellow using a carbon paste electrode modified with a nanostructured resorcinol-formaldehyde resin

This article describes an electrochemical sensor for the dye additive Sunset Yellow (SY). It consists of a carbon paste electrode modified with nanostructured resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) resin. The RF resin warrants strong signal enhancement and a strongly increased oxidation peak currents of SY at 0.66 V (vs. SCE). The effects of pH value, amount of RF polymer, accumulation potential and time were optimized. The sensor has a linear response to SY in the 0.3 to 125 nM concentration range, and the limit of detection is 0.09 nM after a 2-min accumulation time. The electrode was applied to the analysis of samples of wastewater and drinks, and the results are consistent with those obtained by HPLC.

Nanostructured resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) resin was prepared and used as a material for electrochemical determination of Sunset Yellow.

     

Voltammetric determination of catechol using a sonogel carbon electrode modified with nanostructured titanium dioxide

In this study, we investigate highly efficient sonogel carbon electrode (SGC/TiO₂) modified with nanostructured titanium dioxide synthesized via sol-gel method employing surfactant template for tailor-designing the structural properties of TiO₂. The stable SGC/TiO₂ electrode detects catechol, a neurotransmitter, in the presence of ascorbic acid, a common interferent, using cyclic voltammetry. A possible rationale for the stable catechol detection of SGC/TiO₂ electrode is attributed to most likely the adsorption of catechol onto highly porous TiO₂ (surface area of 147 m² g⁻¹ and porosity of 46.2%), and the formation of C₆H₄(OTi)₂ bond between catechol and TiO₂. The catechol absorbed onto TiO₂ rapidly reaches the SGC surface, then is oxidized, involving two electrons (e⁻) and two protons (H⁺). As a result, the surface of TiO₂ acts as an electron-transfer accelerator between the SGC electrode and catechol. In addition to the quantitative and qualitative detection of catechol, the SGC/TiO₂ electrode developed here meets the profitable features of electrode including mechanical stability, physical rigidity, and enhanced catalytic properties.     

卟啉、酞菁共敏化二氧化钛纳米电极

研究了染料对锌卟啉-氢卟啉(ZnTSPP-H~2TSPP)、锌卟啉-镓酞菁(ZnTSPP-GaTSPc)共敏化二氧化钛纳米电极的光电转换特性和H~2TSPP,GaTSPc在电极表面的聚集态对光电转换的影响,共敏化显著提高了电极的光电转换并产生了混合效应。提出了低占据电荷转移的共敏化机理。     

Hydrazine sensors development based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a nanostructured TiO2 films by electrochemical approach

Microchimica Acta - The authors describe a selective hydrazine sensor that is based on the use of a film of TiO2 nanoparticles faceted predominantly at the 101 and 001 sides. The hydrazine (Hyd)...     

A glassy carbon electrode modified with SnO2 nanofibers,polyaniline and hemoglobin for improved amperometric sensing of hydrogen peroxide

Microchimica Acta - The authors describe a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a multiporous nanofibers prepared from SnO2, polyaniline and hemoglobin, and its application to the...     

Photoelectrochemical properties of supramolecular composite of fullerene nanoclusters and 9-mesityl-10-carboxymethylacridinium ion on SnO2

[structure: see text] The photovoltaic cell composed of both fullerene nanoclusters and 9-mesityl-10-carboxymethylacridinium ion exhibits significant enhancement in the photoelectrochemical performance as well as broader photoresponse in the visible and near-infrared regions as compared with the reference system containing only each component.     

Evaluation of a carbon paste electrode modified with organofunctionalised SBA-15 nanostructured silica in the simultaneous determination of divalent lead, copper and mercury ions

The performance of a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with SBA-15 nanostructured silica organofunctionalised with 2-benzothiazolethiol in the simultaneous determination of Pb(II), Cu(II) and Hg(II) ions in natural water and sugar cane spirit (cacha?a) is described. Pb(II), Cu(II) and Hg(II) were pre-concentrated on the surface of the modified electrode by complexing with 2-benzothiazolethiol and reduced at a negative potential (-0.80 V). Then the reduced products were oxidised by DPASV procedure. The fact that three stripping peaks appeared on the voltammograms at the potentials of -0.48 V (Pb2+), -0.03 V (Cu2+) and +0.36 V (Hg2+) in relation to the SCE, demonstrates the possibility of simultaneous determination of Pb2+, Cu2+ and Hg2+. The best results were obtained under the following optimised conditions: 100 mV pulse amplitude, 3 min accumulation time, 25 mV s(-1) scan rate in phosphate solution pH 3.0. Using such parameters, calibration graphs were linear in the concentration ranges of 3.00-70.0 x 10(-7) mol L(-1) (Pb2+), 8.00-100.0 x 10(-7) mol L(-1) (Cu2+) and 2.00-10.0 x 10(-6) mol L(-1) (Hg2+). Detection limits of 4.0 x 10(-8) mol L(-1) (Pb2+), 2.0 x 10(-7) mol L(-1) (Cu2+) and 4.0 x 10(-7) mol L(-1) (Hg2+) were obtained at the signal noise ratio (SNR) of 3. The results indicate that this electrode is sensitive and effective for simultaneous determination of Pb2+, Cu2+ and Hg2+ in the analysed samples.     

Morphological and photoelectrochemical characterization of core-shell nanoparticle films for dye-sensitized solar cells: Zn-O type shell on SnO2 and TiO2 cores

Core-shell type nanoparticles with SnO2 and TiO2 cores and zinc oxide shells were prepared and characterized by surface sensitive techniques. The influence of the structure of the ZnO shell and the morphology ofnanoparticle films on the performance was evaluated. X-ray absorption near-edge structure and extended X-ray absorption fine structure studies show the presence of thin ZnO-like shells around the nanoparticles at low Zn levels. In the case of SnO2 cores, ZnO nanocrystals are formed at high Zn/Sn ratios (ca. 0.5). Scanning electron microscopy studies show that Zn modification of SnO2 nanoparticles changes the film morphology from a compact mesoporous structure to a less dense macroporous structure. In contrast, Zn modification of TiO2 nanoparticles has no apparent influence on film morphology. For SnO2 cores, adding ZnO improves the solar cell efficiency by increasing light scattering and dye uptake and decreasing recombination. In contrast, adding a ZnO shell to the TiO2 core decreases the cell efficiency, largely owing to a loss of photocurrent resulting from slow electron transport associated with the buildup of the ZnO surface layer.