Determination of paraquat in biological and environmental samples by a photokinetic method

A fast and sensitive photokinetic method for the determination of paraquat (MV²⁺) (1?27×10^?5M) is described, based on the rate of photoreduction of MV²⁺ by EDTA, sensitized by acridine yellow in the absence of oxygen. The rate of photoreduction, which is a linear function of the concentration of MV²⁺ is monitored polarographically by recording the limiting current of p- benzoquinone, which is reduced by the radical monocation MV^+· generated in the photochemical reaction. The results obtained by the application of the fixed-time, fixed-concentration change and initial-rate kinetic methods are evaluated. An alternative method for monitoring the rate of the process is by measuring the time necessary for the total reduction of p-benzoquinone. The end-point is detected with two platinum electrodes at an applied voltage of 100 mV. The procedure has been successfully applied to the determination of paraquat in commercial herbicides, waters, and flowers and in spiked soils and blood sera.     

Reaction of Aromatic Peroxyl Radicals with Alkynes: A Mass Spectrometric and Computational Study Using the Distonic Radical Ion Approach

The reaction of the aromatic distonic peroxyl radical cations N‐methyl pyridinium‐4‐peroxyl (PyrOO^.+) and 4‐(N,N,N‐trimethyl ammonium)‐phenyl peroxyl (AnOO^.+), with symmetrical dialkyl alkynes 10a – c was studied in the gas phase by mass spectrometry. PyrOO^.+ and AnOO^.+ were produced through reaction of the respective distonic aryl radical cations Pyr^.+ and An^.+ with oxygen, O₂. For the reaction of Pyr^.+ with O₂ an absolute rate coefficient of k₁=7.1×10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 and a collision efficiency of 1.2 % was determined at 298 K. The strongly electrophilic PyrOO^.+ reacts with 3‐hexyne and 4‐octyne with absolute rate coefficients of k_hexyne=1.5×10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 and k_octyne=2.8×10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively, at 298 K. The reaction of both PyrOO^.+ and AnOO^.+ proceeds by radical addition to the alkyne, whereas propargylic hydrogen abstraction was observed as a very minor pathway only in the reactions involving PyrOO^.+. A major reaction pathway of the vinyl radicals 11 formed upon PyrOO^.+ addition to the alkynes involves γ‐fragmentation of the peroxy O? O bond and formation of PyrO^.+. The PyrO^.+ is rapidly trapped by intermolecular hydrogen abstraction, presumably from a propargylic methylene group in the alkyne. The reaction of the less electrophilic AnOO^.+ with alkynes is considerably slower and resulted in formation of AnO^.+ as the only charged product. These findings suggest that electrophilic aromatic peroxyl radicals act as oxygen atom donors, which can be used to generate α‐oxo carbenes 13 (or isomeric species) from alkynes in a single step. Besides γ‐fragmentation, a number of competing unimolecular dissociative reactions also occur in vinyl radicals 11 . The potential energy diagrams of these reactions were explored with density functional theory and ab initio methods, which enabled identification of the chemical structures of the most important products.     

Tuning Electrical- and Photo-Conductivity by Cation Exchange within a Redox-Active Tetrathiafulvalene-Based Metal–Organic Framework

To activate electronic and optical functions of the redox-active metal–organic framework, (Me₂NH₂)[In^III(TTFTB)]⋅0.7 C₂H₅OH⋅DMF (Me₂NH₂@ 1 , TTFTB=tetrathiafulvalene-tetrabenzoate, DMF=N,N-dimethylformamide), has been exchanged by tetrathiafulvalenium (TTF^.+) and N,N′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium (MV²⁺). These cations provide electron carriers and photosensitivity. The exchange retains the crystallinity allowing single-crystal to single-crystal post-synthetic transformation to TTF@ 1 and MV@ 1 . Both TTF^.+ and MV²⁺ enhance the electrical conductivity by a factor of 10² and the visible light induced photocurrent by 4 and 28 times, respectively. EPR evidences synergetic effect involving charge transfer between the framework redox-active TTFTB bridges and MV²⁺. The results demonstrate that functionalization of MOF by cation exchange without perturbing the crystallinity extends possibilities to achieve switchable materials.     

MECHANISM OF THE PHOTOSENSITIZED REDOX REACTIONS OF ACRIDINE ORANGE IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS-A SYSTEM OF INTEREST IN THE PHOTOCHEMICAL STORAGE OF SOLAR ENERGY†

-We have carried out a very detailed study, using fluorescence and optical flash photolysis techniques, of the photoreduction of methyl viologen (MV²⁺) by the electron donor ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) in aqueous solution sensitized by the dye acridine orange (AOH⁺). A complete mechanism has been proposed which accounts for virtually all of the known observations on this reaction. This reaction is novel in that both the triplet and the singlet state of AOH⁺ appear to be active photochemically. We have shown that mechanisms previously proposed for this reaction are probably incorrect due to an artifact. At pH 7 the fluorescence quantum yield φ_s of AOH⁺ is 0.26 ± 0.02 and the fluorescence lifetime is 1.8 ± 0.2 ns. φ_s is pH dependent and reaches a maximum of 0.56 at pH 4. The fluorescence of AOH⁺ is quenched by MV²⁺ at concentrations above 1 mM and the quenching obeys Stern-Volmer kinetics with a quenching rate constant of (1.0 ± 0.1) × 10¹⁰M^?1 s^?1. The quenching of the AOH⁺ excited singlet state by MV²⁺ almost certainly returns the AOH⁺ to its ground state with no photochemistry occurring. EDTA also quenches the fluorescence of AOH· with Stern-Volmer kinetics but with a smaller rate constant (6.4 ± 0.5) × 10⁸M^?1s^?1 at pH 7. In this case the quenching is reactive resulting in the formation of semireduced AOH. In the presence of MV²⁺, flash irradiation of AOH⁺ does result in the reversible formation of the semireduced MV? which absorbs at 603 nm. We attribute this to a photochemical reaction of the triplet state of AOH⁺ with MV²⁺. The initial quantum yield for formation of MV? (φ_MV:)₀ was found to be constant at 0.10 ± 0.05 for [MV²⁺] from 5 × 10^?5 to 1.0 × 10^?3 with [AOH⁺] = 8 × 10^?6M. Previous workers had found that (φ_MV:)₀ appears to decrease with decreasing [AOH⁺]; however, on careful investigation, we found this was most probably due to quenching of the triplet state of AOH⁺ by trace amounts of oxygen. When EDTA is added to a mixture of AOH ⁺ and MV²⁺ at pH 7, the photochemical formation of MV? becomes irreversible as the [EDTA] is increased. The quantum yield for the irreversible formation of MV? exceeds 0.10 becoming as large as 0.16 for [EDTA] = 0.014M. This fact requires that an alternative photochemical process must be operative and we present evidence that this is a reaction of EDTA with the excited singlet state of AOH⁺ to produce the semi-reduced AOH- which then reacts with MV²⁺ to produce MV?. The full kinetic scheme was tested by computer simulation and found to be totally consistent. This also enabled the processing of a full set of rate constants. When colloidal PtO₂ was added to the optimal mixture [EDTA] = 3.4 × 10^?2M; [MV²⁺] = 5 × 10^?4M; [AOH⁺] = 4 × 10^?5M; pH6 H₂ gas was produced at a rate of 0.2μmol H₂h^?1. Thus, acridine orange should serve as an effective sensitizer in reactions designed to use solar energy to photolyze water.     

Selective fluorometry of cytochrome c using glutathione-capped CdTe quantum dots in weakly basic medium

Glutathione-capped CdTe quantum dots (GSH-CdTe QDs) were synthesized in aqueous medium. Their interactions with proteins, especially three heme-containing proteins, were investigated over a broad pH range. At 6.0?<?pH?<?8.0, the fluorescence of the GSH-CdTe QDs can be effectively quenched by cytochrome c (Cyt. c) and hemoglobin, respectively. At pH?>?8.0, only cytochrome c quenched the fluorescence of the GSH-CdTe QDs, and no significant fluorescence changes were observed for hemoglobin or other proteins. Based on the distinct fluorescence response, a novel method has been developed for the selective determination of cytochrome c using GSH-CdTe QDs as the fluorescence probe at pH 9.0. Under optimum conditions, the linear range of the calibration curve is from 3.2?×?10^?8 to 2.4?×?10^?6?mol L^?1 and the detection limit is 3.0?×?10^?9?mol L^?1. The method has been applied to the determination of cytochrome c in three synthetic and real samples, and satisfactory results were obtained with QDs through selecting the proper pH value.     

Volume change of ion pair formation: Rubidium nitrate and thallium(I) nitrate in water

Density data for dilute aqueous solutions of RbNO ₃ and TlNO ₃ at 25°C lead to the following equations for the apparent molal volumes: RbNO₃: Φ_V = 43.0₇ + 2.46c ^1/2 + 0.15c (0?0.41M) TINO₃: Φ_V = 39.5₀ + 10.83c ^1/2 ? 25.46c + 26.0c ^3/2 (0.03?0.25M) From these expressions and a semiempirical equation for Φ_v of a completely dissociated 1:1 electrolyte, values of ΔΦ_v for ion pair formation at c=0.10 are calculated to be+5 ml-mole^?1 for RbNO ₃ and+12 ml-mole^?1 for TlNO ₃ . Comparison of ΔΦ_v with the electrostriction volume effect suggests that virtually all of the electrostriction is removed in the formation of the TlNO ₃ ion pair but only about half with RbNO ₃ . Values of ΔΦ_v are in poor agreement with those estimated from electrostatic theories of ion pair formation.     

Electrochemical properties and state of paramagnetic centers in copper-modified complex vanadium and titanium oxides

Complex vanadium and titanium oxides modified by copper ions are studied by the electrochemical and ESR methods. Oxides Cu _x V_2?y Ti _y O_5?δ·nH₂O (0<y<1.33) have a layered structure and oxides Cu _x Ti_1?y V _y O_5+δ·nH₂O (0<y<0.25), an anatase structure. The intercalation of cations Cu²⁺ into the hydrates leads to oxidation of V⁴⁺. According to ESR data, V⁴⁺ exists in the oxides in the form of VO²⁺ and an octahedral surround of oxygen (V⁴⁺?O₆), respectively. The electroreduction of ions of d-elements and chemisorbed oxygen in the oxides is analyzed. The intercalation of cations Cu²⁺ alters the content of V⁴⁺ and the chemisorption ability of the oxides. Possible reasons for this phenomenon are discussed.     

CeVO4 Nanozymes Catalyze the Reduction of Dioxygen to Water without Releasing Partially Reduced Oxygen Species

In this study, we report a remarkably active CeVO₄ nanozyme that functionally mimics cytochrome c oxidase (CcO), the terminal enzyme in the respiratory electron transport chain, by catalyzing a four‐electron reduction of dioxygen to water. The nanozyme catalyzes the reaction by using cytochrome c (Cyt c), the biological electron donor for CcO, at physiologically relevant pH. The CcO activity of the CeVO₄ nanozymes depends on the relative ratio of surface Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ ions, the presence of V⁵⁺ and the surface‐Cyt c interactions. The complete reduction of oxygen to water takes place without release of any partially reduced oxygen species (PROS) such as superoxide, peroxide and hydroxyl radicals.     

Thermal lens determination of cytochrome c and its NO complex

Spectrophotometric and thermal lens measurements showed that cw laser beam (450–530 nm, up to 100 mW) does not affect the absorption band of cytochrome c. Therefore, thermal lensing is used for determining cytochrome c (III) (c _min = 1 × 10^?7 mol/L at λ = 488.0 nm; c _min = 3 × 10^?8 mol/L at λ = 514.5 nm) and its active form, cytochrome c (II) (c _min = 1 × 10^?8 mol/L at λ = 514.5 nm). The enhancement of the sensitivity of determination of these species as compared with conventional spectrophotometry is more than two orders of magnitude. The optimal conditions for the formation of the NO complex of cytochrome c for its photometric determination were selected: the molar ratio of dodecyl sulfate (a modifying agent) to cytochrome c is 1: 30 at a working wavelength of 560 nm. When exposed to laser radiation, the nitrosyl complex of cytochrome c dissociates to form cytochrome c (III). The decomposition of this complex can be monitored by thermal lensing (514.5 nm) down to a level of 1 × 10^?7 mol/L.     

Sensitized photo-redox reaction: VII. The Synthesis,FAB mass spectrum,stationary absorption,emission, transient absorption spectra,redox potential of dihydroxy-tin (IV)-mesoporphyrin dimethyl ester and its sensitized photo-reduction of methyl viologen

In DMSO/water (4:1), photolysis of the dihydroxy-Sn (IV)-mesoporphyrin dimethyl ester (SnP)/methyl viologen (MV²⁺)/ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) ternary system produces methyl viologen cation radical with a quantum yield of 0.67, much higher than that of systems with other metal complexes of mesoporphyrin dimethyl ester. Neither EDTA nor MV²⁺ quenches the stationary fluorescence of SnP, implying that the reaction does not take place at the singlet state. With flash photolysis we obtain the T-T absorption spectrum of SnP (λ_max 440 nm). By following the decay of this absorption, the triplet life time of SnP is estimated to be 41 μs. The life time is related to the concentration of either MV²⁺ or EDTA. Good linear relationships are obtained by plotting τ₀τ vs. the concentration of MV²⁺ or EDTA (Stern-Volmer plot), from which we determine the quenching constants: _kq(MV²⁺) =5.5 × 10⁷ mol^?1, s^?1; k_q (EDTA) =2.7 × 10⁷ mol^?1, s^?1. The data suggests that upon photolysis of the above ternary system, both oxidative quenching and reductive quenching of the triplet state of the sensitizer are occurring. From the measured phosphorescence spectrum (λ_max 704 nm) and the ground state redox, potentials (E^red_1/2?-0.84V, E^ox_1/2?+1.43 V, vs. Ag/AgCl, KCl (sat.)), we obtain the redox potential of triplet SnP to be E(P⁺/P*_T)?-0.33 V, E(P*_T+/P^?)?+0.92 V. Matching this data with the redox potential of MV²⁺ and EDTA, we establish the fact that during the photolysis of the SnP/MV²⁺/EDTA ternary system, both oxidative and reductive quenching are thermodynamically favorable processes. This is also the reason why the SnP sensitized reaction is much more efficient relative to other mesoporphyrin derivatives.     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Water‐Soluble Carboxylated Polyfluorene and Its Fluorescence Quenching by Cationic Quenchers and Proteins

We have developed a new intermediate monomer, 2,7‐[bis(4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolan‐2‐yl)‐9,9‐bis(3‐(tert‐butyl propanoate))]fluorene, that allows the easy synthesis of water‐soluble carboxylated polyfluorenes. As an example, poly[9,9′‐bis(3′′‐propanoate)fluoren‐2,7‐yl] sodium salt was synthesized by the Suzuki coupling reaction, and the properties of the polymer were studied in aqueous solutions of different pH. Fluorescence quenching of the polymer by different cationic quenchers (MV²⁺, MV⁴⁺, and NO₂MV²⁺; MV=methyl viologen) was studied, and the quenching constants were found to be dependent on the charge and electron affinity of the quencher molecule and the pH of the medium. The largest quenching constant was observed to be 1.39×10⁸ M ^?1 for NO₂MV²⁺ at pH 7. The change in polymer fluorescence upon interaction with different proteins was also studied. Strong fluorescence quenching of the polymer was observed in the presence of cytochrome c, whereas weak quenching was observed in the presence of myoglobin and bovine serum albumin. Lysozyme quenched the polymer emission at low protein concentrations, and the quenching became saturated at high protein concentrations. Under similar experimental conditions, the polymer showed improved quenching efficiencies toward cationic quenchers and a more selective response to proteins relative to other carboxylated conjugated polymers.     

Phase diagram and some physical properties of V2O3+x1 (0 ? x ? 0.080)

The magnetic and electric properties of V₂O_3+x were investigated by measurements of magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity, magnetotorque, Mössbauer of doped ⁵⁷Fe, and NMR of ⁵¹V, and the results were compared with those of the (V_1?xTi_x)₂O₃ system or highly pressured V₂O₃. The results obtained are as follows: (1) The metallic state shows an antiferromagnetic ordering at T_N (x). The value of T_N for metallic V₂O₃, obtained by interpolation to x = 0, shows the coincidence between V₂O_3+x and the (V_1?xTi_x)₂O₃ system. (2) Magnetic susceptibility of V₂O_3+x is expressed as χ_M(V₂O_3+x) = (1?x)χ_M(V³⁺) + xχ_M(V⁴⁺). χ_M(V⁴⁺) obeys the Curie-Weiss law $\text{(χ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>M</mtext>}}\text{(}\text{V}{}^{\mathrm{4+}}\text{) =}\text{0.77}\text{T}\text{+ 17)}$. (3) In the insulating phase, the electrical resistivity ? is expressed as a common equation: $\text{? = 10}{}^{\mathrm{?1.8}}\text{exp}\text{(}\text{E}\text{kT}\text{)}$. This implies that the substitution of Ti or nonstoichiometry (V⁺⁴ + metal vacancies) has little influence on the carrier mobility (or bandwidth). (4) There is a critical length in the c-axis (? 14.01 Å) where the metal-insulator transition takes place. This suggests that the length of the c-axis plays an important role in the metal-insulator transition of V₂O₃-related compounds.     

Uncatalyzed and ruthenium(III)‐catalyzed reaction of acidic chlorite with methylene violet

The kinetics and mechanism of the uncatalyzed and Ru(III)‐catalyzed oxidation of methylene violet (3‐amino‐7‐diethylamino‐5‐phenyl phenazinium chloride) (MV⁺) by acidic chlorite is reported. With excess concentrations of other reactants, both uncatalyzed and catalyzed reactions had pseudo‐first‐order kinetics with respect to MV⁺. The uncatalyzed reaction had first‐order dependence on chlorite and H⁺ concentrations, but the catalyzed reaction had first‐order dependence on both chlorite and catalyst, and a fractional order with respect to [H⁺]. The rate coefficient of the uncatalyzed reaction is (5.72 ± 0.19) M^?2 s^?1, while the catalytic constant for the catalyzed reaction is (22.4 ± 0.3) × 10³ M^?1 s^?1. The basic stoichiometric equation is as follows: 2MV⁺ + 7ClO₂^? + 2H⁺ = 2P + CH₃COOH + 4ClO₂ + 3Cl^?, where P⁺ = 3‐amino‐7‐ethylamino‐5‐phenyl phenazinium‐10‐N‐oxide. Stoichiometry is dependent on the initial concentration of chlorite present. Consistent with the experimental results, pertinent mechanisms are proposed. The proposed 15‐step mechanism is simulated using literature; experimental and estimated rate coefficients and the simulated plots agreed well with the experimental curves. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 294–303, 2003     

Single‐Electron Self‐Exchange between Cage Hydrocarbons and Their Radical Cations in the Gas Phase

We show that the radical cations of adamantane (C₁₀H₁₆^.+, 1 H^.+) and perdeuteroadamantane (C₁₀D₁₆^.+, 1 D^.+) are stable species in the gas phase. The radical cation of adamantylideneadamantane (C₂₀H₂₈^.+, 2 H^.+) is also stable (as in solution). By using the natural ¹³C abundances of the ions, we determine the rate constants for the reversible isergonic single‐electron transfer (SET) processes involving the dyads 1 H^.+/ 1 H, 1 D^.+/ 1 D and 2 H^.+/ 2 H. Rate constants for the reaction 1 H^.++ 1 D? 1 H+ 1 D^.+ are also determined and Marcus’ cross‐term equation is shown to hold in this case. The rate constants for the isergonic processes are extremely high, practically collision‐controlled. Ab initio computations of the electronic coupling (H_DA) and the reorganization energy (λ) allow rationalization of the mechanism of the process and give insights into the possible role of intermediate complexes in the reaction mechanism.     

HTFFR kinetics studies: A chemiluminescence titration method for the determination of absolutes Sn concentrations

Absolute gas phase Sn concentrations in the range 1 × 10¹³ ? [Sn] ? 1 × 10¹⁴ ml^?1 have been determined utilizing a technique based on the rapid (at T ? 900 K) titration reaction Sn + NO₂ → SnO + NO (k(900–1100 K) ≈ 1 × 10^?10 ml molecule^?1 s^?1) and the chemiluminescent indicator reaction Sn + N₂O → SnO + N₂ + hv(SnO a³ Σ-X¹Σ).     

An electron spin resonance (ESR) and simultaneous electrochemical and electron spin resonance (SEESR) spectroscopic study of motion, stability and potential controlled release of radical guests from the β-cyclodextrin inclusion polymer

The influence of molecular inclusion and separation of radical guests inside the amorphous β-cyclodextrin host polymer (β-CDP) matrices on the motion and stability as well as controlled potential release of radicals was studied by electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) and simultaneous electrochemistry and electron spin resonance (SEESR) spectroscopy. A pronounced restriction of rotational motion was observed for the included stable protonated form of the 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (4-amino-TEMPO) free radical and a partial restriction of motion of the NN,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine (TMPD^.+) radical (generated ex situ by controlled potential electrolysis), while virtually no restriction was found in the case of the methyl (MV^.+) and heptyl viologen (HV^.+) monocation radicals as well as of the 2-nitrotoluene anion radical (2NT^.− ). The MV^.+, HV^.+ and 2NT^.− unstable radicals were electrochemically generated inside the β-CDP film coat at a Pt flag electrode. The rate of the open-circuit decay of the included unstable radicals was markedly decreased as compared with their decay at the bare electrode. It was also found that the extent of inclusion of alkyl viologens was governed by their ionic charge, i.e. the higher the charge of the ion the weaker its inclusion.     

Gas‐Phase Reactions of Cationic Vanadium‐Phosphorus Oxide Clusters with C2Hx (x=4, 6): A DFT‐Based Analysis of Reactivity Patterns

The reactivities of the adamantane‐like heteronuclear vanadium‐phosphorus oxygen cluster ions [V_xP_4?xO₁₀]^.+ (x=0, 2–4) towards hydrocarbons strongly depend on the V/P ratio of the clusters. Possible mechanisms for the gas‐phase reactions of these heteronuclear cations with ethene and ethane have been elucidated by means of DFT‐based calculations; homolytic C? H bond activation constitutes the initial step, and for all systems the P? O^. unit of the clusters serves as the reactive site. More complex oxidation processes, such as oxygen‐atom transfer to, or oxidative dehydrogenation of the hydrocarbons require the presence of a vanadium atom to provide the electronic prerequisites which are necessary to bring about the 2e^? reduction of the cationic clusters.     

Features of the Diels-Alder reaction between 9,10-diphenylanthracene and 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione

The Diels-Alder reaction between substituted anthracenes 1a?1j and 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5 (2) is studied. In all cases except one, the reaction proceeds on the most active 9,10-atoms of substituted anthracenes. The orthogonality of the two phenyl groups at the 9,10-position of diene 1a is found to shield 9,10-reactive centers. No dienophiles with C=C bonds are shown to participate in the Diels-Alder reaction with 1a; however, the reaction 1a + 2 proceeds with the very active dienophile 2,4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione. It is shown that attachment occurs on the less active but sterically accessible 1,4-reactive center of diene 1a. The structure of adduct 3a is proved by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The following parameters are obtained for reaction 1a + 2 ? 3a in toluene at 25°C: K _eq = 2120 M^?1, ΔH _f ^≠ = 58.6 kJ/mol, ΔS _f ^≠ = ?97 J/(mol K), ΔV _f ^≠ = ?17.2 cm³/mol, ΔH _b ^≠ = 108.8 kJ/mol, ΔS _b ^≠ = 7.3 J/(mol K), ΔV _b ^≠ = ?0.8 cm³/mol, ΔH _r-n = ?50.2 kJ/mol, ΔS _r-n = ?104.3 J/(mol K), ΔV _r-n = ?15.6 cm³/mol. It is concluded that the values of equilibrium constants of the reactions 1a?1j + 2 ? 3a?3j vary within 4 × 10¹?10¹¹ M^?1.     

The galvanostatic double-pulse method in the study of the kinetics of stepwise electrode reactions

Analysis of the kinetics of the overall electrode reaction Me⁰ ? e^? = Me²⁺ proceeding through the three consecutive charge-transfer steps Me⁰ ? e^? = Me⁺ Me⁺ ? e^? = Me²⁺ Me²⁺ ? e^? = Me³⁺ involving non-adsorbed intermediates under transient single- and double-galvanostatic conditions has been made. Curves of η ? t were plotted and change of intermediate concentrations with time were calculated numerically for different ratios of exchange current densities. It is shown that when the time of reaching the steady-state, caused by the rate levelling of single-electron steps considerably exceeds the time of double-layer charging by the short duration current impulse, the employment of the galvanostatic double-pulse method allows the stepwise electrode process under non-stationary conditions to be investigated and information about the kinetics of the fastest steps in the reaction sequence to be obtained. Comparison of the conclusions of the analysis and experiment has been carried out by the galvanostatic double-pulse method in the stepwise electrode reaction Bi⁰ ?3 e^? = Bi(III) on an amalgam electrode in 2 M HClO₄ solutions.     

Electrochemistry and biosensing activity of cytochrome c immobilized on a mesoporous interface assembled from carbon nanospheres

We report on an amperometric biosensor for hydrogen peroxide. It is obtained via layer-by-layer assembly of ordered mesoporous carbon nanospheres and poly(diallyldimethylammonium) on the surface of an indium tin oxide (ITO) glass electrode and subsequent adsorption of cytochrome c. UV–vis absorption spectroscopy was applied to characterize the process of forming the assembled layers. Cyclic voltammetry revealed a direct and quasi-reversible electron transfer between cytochrome c and the surface of the modified ITO electrode. The surface-controlled electron transfer has an apparent heterogeneous electron-transfer rate constant (k _s ) of 5.9?±?0.2?s^?1 in case of the 5-layer electrode. The biosensor displays good electrocatalytic response to the reduction of H₂O₂, and the amperometric signal increase steadily with the concentration of H₂O₂ in the range from 5?μM to 1.5?mM. The detection limit is 1?μM at pH 7.4. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (K _m ) of the sensor is 0.53?mM. We assume that the observation of a direct electron transfer of cytochrome c on mesoporous carbon nanospheres may form the basis for a feasible approach for durable and reliable detection of H₂O₂.