Variations in the Overall Charge and Open-Circuit Potential of a Palladium Electrode during the Adsorption of Iodine and Iodide Anions

Transients of the current and the open-circuit potential during the adsorption of I^– and I₂ on Pd/Pt (supporting electrolyte 0.5 M H₂SO₄) are measured and so are potentiodynamic and galvanostatic charging curves, in the presence and absence of adlayers. Dependences of the overall electrode charge on potential are constructed. After the adsorption of both I^– and I₂, values of the electrode surface charges at potentials of the double-layer region turn negative and considerably differ in their magnitude. The latter is connected with different character of adlayers, which is shown by experiments on the adsorption of silver atoms at underpotentials after a preliminary adsorption of I^– and I₂ on the electrode surface. Certain discrepancies between experimentally-found and theoretically-expected values of transients are attributed to a substantial increase in the irreversibility of sorption and desorption of hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of iodine atoms adsorbed on the surface.     

Structure-relationships in electrocatalysis: oxygen reduction and hydrogen oxidation reactions on Pt(111) and Pt(100) in solutions containing chloride ions

Kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (orr) and the hydrogen evolution–oxidation reactions (her/hor) were studied on the Pt(111) and Pt(100) surfaces in 0.05 M H₂SO₄ containing Cl⁻. The orr is strongly inhibited on the (100) surface modified by adsorbed Cl⁻ (Cl_ad), and it occurs as a 3.5e⁻ reduction via solution phase peroxide formation. In the hydrogen adsorption (H_upd) potential region, the orr is even more inhibited, and corresponds only to a 2 e⁻ reduction at the negative potential limit where the electrode is covered by one monolayer of H_upd and some (unknown) amount of Cl_ad. On the Pt(111)---Cl_ad surface, the orr is inhibited relatively little (in addition to that caused by strong bisulfate anion adsorption on this surface), and the reaction pathway is the same as in Cl⁻ free solution. The kinetics of the hor on Pt(111) are the same in pure solution and in a solution containing Cl⁻, since Cl_ad does not affect platinum sites required for the breaking of the H---H bond. A relatively large inhibition of the hor is observed on the (100) surface, implying that strongly adsorbed Cl_ad is present on the surface even near 0 V.     

A novel electrochemical method to detect mercury (II) ions

A novel and sensitive electrochemical method for determination of mercury (II) ions (Hg²⁺) based on the formation of thymine–Hg²⁺–thymine complexes and gold nanoparticle-mediated signal amplification is reported. Two 5′ end thiolated complementary oligonucleotides containing six strategically placed thymine–thymine mistakes were introduced in this work. One of the two oligonucleotides was immobilized on a gold electrode and the other one on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Due to six thymine–thymine mistakes the two oligonucleotides were not able to be hybridized, so AuNPs could not be immobilized onto the electrode surface after the electrode was immersed in the DNA–AuNPs solution. However, if Hg²⁺ existed, T–Hg²⁺–T complexes could be formed and AuNPs could be immobilized onto the electrode surface. Meanwhile, large numbers of [Ru(NH₃)₆]³⁺ molecules as electrochemical species could be localized onto the electrode surface. The Hg²⁺ detection limit of this assay could be as low as 10 nM, which is the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limit of Hg²⁺ for drinkable water. This method is proven to be simple, convenient, high sensitive and selective.     

Variations in the Charge and Open-Circuit Potential of a Platinum Electrode during Adsorption of Iodine and Iodide Ions

The adsorption of iodine and iodide anions on a Pt/Pt electrode (0.5 M H₂SO₄ as a supporting solution) is compared using potentiodynamic and galvanostatic charging curves, transients of the current and open-circuit potential (OCP), and analytical measurements. Variations in the charge and OCP during the adsorption obey relationships derived for strong adsorption of neutral species and ions on a hydrogen electrode with the formation of irreversibly adsorbed atoms. The main product of the I₂ and I^– chemisorption in acid solutions is adsorbed iodine atoms. However, adsorption of iodine occurs in noticeable amounts and above a monolayer in the form of species that undergo electrodesorption during a cathodic polarization to potentials of the beginning of hydrogen adsorption. In the presence of a monolayer of adsorbed iodine atoms, potential of the zero total charge of a Pt/Pt electrode is in the oxygen adsorption region.     

Electrode Modified with Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) Film of Calixarenes for Preconcentration and Stripping Analysis of Hg(II)

A new type of current sensor, Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) film of calixarene on the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was prepared for determination of mercury by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). An anodic stripping peak was obtained at 0.15 V (vs. SCE) by scanning the potential from ?0.6 to +0.6 V. Compared with a bare GCE, the LB film coated electrode greatly improves the sensitivity of measuring mercury ion. The fabricated electrode in a 0.1 M H₂SO₄+0.01 M HCl solution shows a linear voltammetric response in the range of 0.07–40 μg L^?1 and detection limit of 0.04 μg L^?1 (ca. 2×10^?10 M). The high sensitivity, selectivity, and stability of this LB film modified electrode demonstrates its practical application for a simple, rapid and economical determination of Hg²⁺ in a water sample.     

Facilitated transport of Hg(II) through novel activated composite membranes

The results presented in this work deal with the prime application of activated composite membranes (ACMs) for the transport of Hg(II) ions in a continuous extraction–re-extraction system using di-(2-ethylhexyl)dithiophosphoric acid (DTPA) as carrier. The effects of variables such as the pH, the nature of the acid and the concentration of the casting solutions on the transport of Hg(II) are also investigated. When the ACM was prepared with a 0.5 M DTPA solution and when the feed solution contained 2.5×10^–4 M Hg(II) in 0.1 M HCl, the amount of mercury extracted was greater than 76%. The re-extracted mercury was subsequently recovered by means of a stripping phase comprising 0.3 M thiourea solution in 2 M H₂SO₄, yielding 54% of the initial amount of mercury after transport had taken place for 180 min.     

Effect of metals on the catalytic activity of sulfated zirconia for light naphtha isomerization

We studied on the function of the metal in the sulfated zirconia(SO₄^2–/ZrO₂) catalyst for the isomerization reaction of light paraffins. The addition of Pt to the SO₄^2–/ZrO₂ carrier could keep the high catalytic activity. The improvement in this isomerization activity is because Pt promotes removal of the coke precursor deposited on the catalyst surface. Though this catalytic function was observed in other transition metals, such as Pd, Ru, Ni, Rh and W, Pt exhibited the highest effect among them. It was further found that the Pd/SO₄^2–/ZrO₂–Al₂O₃ catalyst possessed a catalytic function for desulfurization of sulfur-containing light naphtha in addition to the skeletal isomerization. The sulfur tolerance of catalyst depended on the method of adding Pd, and the catalyst prepared by impregnation of the SO₄^2–/ZrO₂–Al₂O₃ with an aqueous solution of Pd exhibited the highest sulfur tolerance.Further, we investigated the improvement in sulfur tolerance of the Pt/SO₄^2–/ZrO₂–Al₂O₃ catalyst by impregnation of Pd. The results of EPMA analysis indicated that this catalyst was a hybrid-type one (Pt/SO₄^2–/ZrO₂–Pd/Al₂O₃) in which Pt/SO₄^2–/ZrO₂ particles and Pd/Al₂O₃ particles adjoined closely. This hybrid catalyst possessed a very high sulfur tolerance to the raw light naphtha that was obtained from the atmospheric distillation apparatus, although this light naphtha contained much sulfur. We assume that such a high sulfur tolerance in the hybrid catalyst is brought about by the isomerization function of Pt/SO₄^2–/ZrO₂ particles and the hydrodesulfurization function of Pd/Al₂O₃ particles. Besides, since the hybrid catalyst also provides high catalytic activity in the isomerization of HDS light naphtha, we suggest that the Pd/Al₂O₃ particles supply atomic hydrogen to the Pt/SO₄^2–/ZrO₂ particles by homolytic dissociation of gaseous hydrogen and also enhance the sulfur tolerance of Pt/SO₄^2–/ZrO₂ particles. Finally, we also propose the most suitable location of Pd and Pt in the metal-supported SO₄^2–/ZrO₂–Al₂O₃ catalyst.     

Electrochemical synthesis and characterization of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) in ionic liquids with bulky organic anions

The electrochemistry of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) was studied in two ionic liquids with bulky organic anions, i.e., 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (BMIM) diethylene glycol monomethyl ether sulfate (MDEGSO₄) and BMIM octyl sulfate (OctSO₄). BMIM-MDEGSO₄ is a liquid, while BMIM-OctSO₄ is in solid form at room temperature. Electrosynthesis of PEDOT in BMIM-MDEGSO₄ with an EDOT concentration of 0.1 M and in BMIM-MDEGSO₄/EDOT 1/1 (w/w) solution resulted in no polymer at all or a very limited amount of polymer on the electrode surface, as determined by cyclic voltammetry in 0.1 M KCl(aq) solution. In contrast, electrosynthesis of PEDOT in BMIM-OctSO₄/EDOT 1/1 (w/w) resulted in a high yield of electroactive material on the electrode surface. Furthermore, electrosynthesis of PEDOT in ionic liquid–water solution (C_{ionic liquid}=1.5 M) containing 0.1 M EDOT was also found to give a relatively high yield of electroactive material on the electrode surface, both for 1.5 M BMIM-MDEGSO₄(aq) and 1.5 M BMIM-OctSO₄(aq). The PEDOT electrodes showed an anionic potentiometric response in 10^–5–10^–1 M KCl(aq) solution, indicating a predominant anion transfer at the polymer–solution interface despite the relatively bulky anions (MDEGSO₄^– or OctSO₄^–) incorporated as counterions in PEDOT during electropolymerization. On the basis of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the charge (ion) transport properties of the polymer film were strongly influenced by the water content of the ionic liquid (C_{ionic liquid}=0.05–2.0 M).Dedicated to Zbigniew Galus on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

Characterization of the adsorption state of carbonate ions at the Au(111) electrode surface using in situ IRAS

The spectro-electrochemical behavior of carbonate and bicarbonate ions at the Au(111) electrode surface was studied using the infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS). An absorption band caused by the adsorbed carbonate ions was observed in the wavenumber region of 1425–1511 cm⁻¹ both in Na₂CO₃ and NaHCO₃ solutions. It was concluded that the adsorbed carbonate ions co-ordinate with the electrode surface in the unidentate state with their symmetry axis normal to the substrate. This orientation is retained in the whole potential region where carbonate ions adsorb on the electrode surface in contrast to the behavior of the carbonate ions adsorbed on the Pt(111) electrode surface.     

Osmium(VIII) mediated oxidation of mercury(I) by cerium(IV) in aqueous sulphuric acid – a kinetic and mechanistic study

The oxidation of Hg^I by Ce^IV has been studied in aqueous H₂SO₄. A minute amount (10^–6 mol dm^–3) of Os^VIII is sufficient to catalyse the reaction. The active catalyst, substrate and oxidant species are H₂OsO₅, [Hg₂(SO₄)HSO₄]^– and H₃Ce(SO₄)^– ₄, respectively. Possible mechanisms are proposed and the reaction constants involved have been determined.     

Voltammetric determination of mercury (II) in aqueous media using glassy carbon electrodes modified with novel calix[4]arene

A novel calix[4]arene derivative containing benzothiazole group was coated on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and then applied to the recognition of mercury ion. Cyclic and square wave voltammetric results showed that the modified electrode selectively recognizes Hg²⁺ ion in aqueous media. A new anodic stripping peak at −0.3 V (vs. Ag/Ag⁺) can be obtained by scanning the potential from −0.6 to 0.6 V, and the peak currents are proportional to the Hg²⁺ concentration. The modified electrode in a 0.1 M H₂SO₄+0.01 M NaCl solution shows linear voltammetric response in the range of 25-300 μg l⁻¹ and detection limit of 5 μg l⁻¹ (ca. 2.5×10⁻⁸ M). This modified GCE does not present any significant interference from alkali, alkaline and transition metal ions except for Pb²⁺, Ag⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions. Only 500, 50 and 100-fold molar excess of Pb²⁺, Ag⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions, respectively, can lead to voltammetric response comparable with that of Hg²⁺. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine mercury in natural water.     

The effect of the cooling atmosphere in the preparation of flame-annealed Pt(111) electrodes on CO adlayer oxidation

The effect of the cooling atmosphere on the rate of CO adlayer oxidation on flame-annealed Pt(111) has been studied. Cooling of a flame-annealed Pt(111) electrode in air results in a higher amount of crystalline defects compared to Pt(111) cooled in a hydrogen–argon stream. Although the blank profiles in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ of Pt(111), cooled in air and under oxygen exclusion, are virtually identical, CO adlayer oxidation occurs at significantly lower overpotentials on the former electrode. Three voltammetric peaks are observed for subsaturated CO adlayer oxidation on Pt(111), cooled in Ar+H₂ mixture, while only two peaks develop in the case of a Pt(111) surface cooled in air. Random crystalline defects, introduced via cooling of a flame-annealed Pt(111) in air, enhance CO adlayer oxidation, and apparently also suppress the third high-potential peak observed on a quasi-perfect (111) surface. The high sensitivity of the saturated CO adlayer oxidation to the presence of crystalline defects on Pt(111) can hence be used as a straightforward, sensitive, though qualitative method to assess the degree of crystalline order of the electrode.     

The Electropolymerization of 2,6‐Diaminopyridine and Its Application as Mercury Ion Selective Electrode

A composite graphite (CG) electrode modified with poly(2,6‐diaminopyridine) (PDAP) was used as solid state‐ion selective electrode for determination of mercury. The electrooxidation of monomer 2, 6 diaminopyridine (DAP) onto CG was accomplished from the 30 mM DAP in 5% H₂SO₄ and 0.5 M ZnSO₄. The electrode displayed Nernstian response with slope of 28.4±1 mV decade⁻¹ in concentration range of 1×10⁻⁶ to 1×10⁻¹ M and in solution of pH 3–5. The limit of detection for electrode was 3×10⁻⁸ M with response time of 25 s. The electrode was also suitable as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of Hg²⁺ with iodide.     

Polymeric Tin(II) Complexes with Dibasic Nitrogen-Containing Organic Cations. Synthesis and Crystal Structure of (C10H10N2)0.5[SnF(SO4]

The (C₁₀H₁₀N₂)_0.5[SnF(SO₄)] compound was synthesized via reaction of SnF₂ with 4,4"-bipyridine (C₁₀H₈N₂) in a diluted sulfuric acid solution (pH 3) and its X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out. The Sn²⁺ atoms coordinate one fluorine atom (Sn–F 2.062(2) Å) and two oxygen atoms of two sulfate groups (Sn–O 2.149(2) and 2.313(3) Å) thus forming the coordination polyhedron as a trigonal bipyramid with a stereochemically active unshared electron pair in its vertex. The sulfate groups act as bidentate bridges and join the neighboring Sn²⁺ complexes into infinite chains of [SnF(SO₄)] ^n– _n anions combined in pairs through the Sn–F contacts (2.450(2) Å) to form ribbons whose voids contain two-charge 4,4"-bipyridinium cations.     

Simulating Unstable States during the Coumarin Adsorption on a Mercury Electrode

Dependences of differential capacitance C on potential E of a stationary electrode (hanging mercury drop) in aqueous 0.1 M NaF solutions containing 4.6 × 10^–4 to 3 × 10^–3 M C₉H₆O₂ are obtained using an automatic impedancemeter. At coumarin concentrations below 0.001 M and potential slowly scanned near –1.1 V (SCE) the capacitance is unstable, which results in differently-shaped C vs. E curves in this potential range. The obtained results are attributed to nonequilibrium phase transitions in the adsorption layer, during which the orientation of coumarin molecules at the electrode surface alters. These phenomena are explained semiquantitatively on the basis of a developed theory.     

Effect of Pyrophosphate Ions on the Mechanism of Discharge–Ionization of Copper in Acid Sulfate Solutions

The acceleration of the electrodeposition and anodic dissolution of copper in acid sulfate solutions, caused by sodium pyrophosphate, is found to be due to a chemical heterogeneous stage, which involves an adsorbed pyrophosphate ion (probably, H₂P₂O₇ ^2–). The assumption about the presence of a surface complex on the surface of copper is substantiated. As follows from adsorption isotherms, obtained for strongly acid (to 2 M H₂SO₄) solutions from anodic Tafel plots, the effect of the acid concentration on the rate of the discharge–ionization of copper is caused by its effect on the surface coverage by the adsorbate. Measurements of the quasi-equilibrium potential of the freshly renewed surface of copper confirm the assumption about the inhibiting of the surface diffusion of adsorbed atoms by adsorbed pyrophosphate.     

Coulometric Determination of Chromium(VI) and Copper(II) Present Simultaneously

It was shown that chromium(VI) can be determined by coulometry at a Pt electrode in HNO₃and H₂SO₄solutions. A procedure for the determination of 1–4 mg of chromium in 0.5–1 M HNO₃solutions by controlled-potential coulometry with RSD = 0.2% was developed. It was demonstrated that the degree of the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) reached 99% (RSD = 0.5%) in the determination of chromium by coulometry at a slow potential sweep (v= 1–2 mV/s) in HNO₃solutions. A procedure was proposed for the determination of Cr(VI) and Cu(II) simultaneously present in 0.25–0.5 M H₂SO₄solutions by controlled-potential coulometry with RSD = 0.3%.     

Effect of selenium on the Hg,Zn, Fe and Co content of yeast cells

The yeast cells, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, were exposed to Hg²⁺ ions (10^–4M) and SeO₂ (2·10^–4–10^–2M) or Se- methionine (2·10^–4M). Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was used to analyze changes in the Hg, Zn, Fe and Co levels in these cells. When the yeast was incubated in a medium containing 10^–3M and 10^–2M SeO₂, the Hg content of the yeast markedly increased. It was also found that the uptake of Se and Hg influenced the levels of Zn, Fe and Co found in the cells. While the presence of Se-methionine (Se-Met), SeO₂ or Hg²⁺ ions caused increases in the intracellular Zn levels, the combined presence of Hg²⁺ and SeO₂ and their assumed interaction, reduced the efficiency of Se for increasing the Zn content of yeast.     

Quantum mechanical description of electrode reactions: Part II. Treatment of compact layer structure at platinum electrodes by means of the extended Hückel molecular orbital method. Pt(111) surfaces

The Iteraltive Extended Hückel Molecular Orbital method has been adapted to calculation of the properties of an electrode and compact layer. Predictions of the stablest orientations, on the Pt(111) surface of species such as H₂O, Pt, OH^?, H, and the halides, F^?, Cl^?, Br^? and I^?, based upon calculation of the total energy corresponding to various internuclear distances, are reported. The calculations correctly predict self-adsorption of Pt on the Pt(111) surface at the face-centered cubic closest-packing position. The H₂O molecule is predicted to locate itself above three adjoining Pt atoms, with the O atom closest to the surface and the H atoms opposite the O. Similar results were obtained for OH^? and the halides. Atomic H, however, is predicted to drop into the plane of centers of the Pt surface atoms, where it would lie between, three adjacent Pt atoms. Application of the method to electrode studies requires only modest amounts of computer time but produces surprisingly reliable qualitative predictions. Compulation of electrochemical quantities such as charge, differential capacitance, surface tension and potential energy as a function of electrode potential will be described in future work.     

Electrochemical Condensation of Methylviologen on Specifically‐adsorbed Anion Layers

The adsorption of methylviologen dications (MV²⁺) on single‐crystalline Au electrodes in both H₂SO₄ and HClO₄ was examined. MV²⁺ strongly interacted with sulfate and bisulfate anions adsorbed on the Au(111) electrode surface in 0.05 M H₂SO₄ under a controlled potential of 1.25 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). A characteristic non‐Faradaic current was observed at 1.10 V vs. RHE. When adsorption of MV²⁺ was carried out in 0.1 M HClO₄, the electrochemical response of MV²⁺ was less than that obtained in H₂SO₄. The results show that the formation of a highly ordered sulfate/bisulfate adlayer plays an important role in the formation of condensed MV²⁺ layers. Examination of polycrystalline Au and Au(100) electrodes revealed a poor electrochemical response due to the surface roughness of the Au substrate, but the electrochemical detection was applicable to polycrystalline Au electrodes. A systematic investigation of the structural dependency of viologen derivatives showed that molecular size is important for electrostatic interactions with a highly ordered sulfate/bisulfate adlayer. The findings of the present study demonstrate successful detection of MV²⁺ at a concentration of ≤1 pM with a non‐Faradaic current.