Electrochemistry of Cobalta Bis(dicarbollide) Ions Substituted at Carbon Atoms with Hydrophilic Alkylhydroxy and Carboxy Groups

In this study we explore the effect on the electrochemical signals in aqueous buffers of the presence of hydrophilic alkylhydroxy and carboxy groups on the carbon atoms of cobalta bis(dicarbollide) ions. The oxygen-containing exo-skeletal substituents of cobalta bis(dicarbollide) ions belong to the perspective building blocks that are considered for bioconjugation. Carbon substitution provides wider versatility and applicability in terms of the flexibility of possible chemical pathways. However, until recently, the electrochemistry of compounds substituted only on boron atoms could be studied, due to the unavailability of carbon-substituted congeners. In the present study, electrochemistry in aqueous phosphate buffers is considered along with the dependence of electrochemical response on pH and concentration. The compounds used show electrochemical signals around −1.3 and +1.1 V of similar or slightly higher intensities than in the parent cobalta bis(dicarbollide) ion. The signals at positive electrochemical potential correspond to irreversible oxidation of the boron cage (the C2B9 building block) and at negative potential correspond to the reversible redox process of (CoIII/CoII) at the central atom. Although the first signal is typically sharp and its potential can be altered by a number of substituents, the second signal is complex and is composed of three overlapping peaks. This signal shows sigmoidal character at higher concentrations and may be used as a diagnostic tool for aggregation in solution. Surprisingly enough, the observed effects of the site of substitution (boron or carbon) and between individual groups on the electrochemical response were insignificant. Therefore, the substitutions would preserve promising properties of the parent cage for redox labelling, but would not allow for the further tuning of signal position in the electrochemical window.     

Electrochemical, morphological and microstructural characterization of carbon film resistor electrodes for application in electrochemical sensors

The electrochemical and microstructural properties of carbon film electrodes made from carbon film electrical resistors of 1.5, 15, 140 Ω and 2.0 kΩ nominal resistance have been investigated before and after electrochemical pre-treatment at +0.9 V vs SCE, in order to assess the potential use of these carbon film electrodes as electrochemical sensors and as substrates for sensors and biosensors. The results obtained are compared with those at electrodes made from previously investigated 2 Ω carbon film resistors. Cyclic voltammetry was performed in acetate buffer and phosphate buffer saline electrolytes and the kinetic parameters of the model redox system Fe(CN)₆^3−/4− obtained. The 1.5 Ω resistor electrodes show the best properties for sensor development with wide potential windows, similar electrochemical behaviour to those of 2 Ω and close-to-reversible kinetic parameters after electrochemical pre-treatment. The 15 and 140 Ω resistor electrodes show wide potential windows although with slower kinetics, whereas the 2.0 kΩ resistor electrodes show poor cyclic voltammetric profiles even after pre-treatment. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy related these findings to the interfacial properties of the electrodes. Microstructural and morphological studies were carried out using contact mode Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Confocal Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. AFM showed more homogeneity of the films with lower nominal resistances, related to better electrochemical characteristics. X-ray diffraction and Confocal Raman spectroscopy indicate the existence of a graphitic structure in the carbon films.     

Synthesis and Electronic Properties of Novel 5,7-Diazapentacene Derivatives

A route to the synthesis of novel 5,7-diazapentacenes and some preliminary studies on their properties is reported. A single crystal X-ray diffraction study of the dihexyl derivative showed it had formed a dimer during the analysis. The materials possess lower lying frontier orbitals than pentacene and may have potential applications in organic electronic devices. This synthetic method may be applicable to the synthesis of other azaacenes.     

Electrochemical methods for analysing and controlling charge transfer at the electrode–tissue interface

There have been rapid advances in the development of new materials for use in electrode–tissue interfacing. The development of conducting polymers, conducting hydrogels, carbon nanotubes, graphene and other conducting materials has provided a rich landscape for controlling charge transfer at the electrode–tissue interface and hence to monitor and manipulate cell behaviour. These materials have been used in tissue-engineered constructs to direct and control cell proliferation, growth and differentiation. However, their translation to clinical devices has been less successful. In this review, the use of electroanalytical techniques to develop an understanding of charge transfer at the electrode–tissue interface is discussed. In particular, the impact of solution and electrode conditions on charge injection capacity is demonstrated. The importance of standardised testing methods and the correlation of electrochemical and electrophysiological performance show the limitations of empirical studies and help define key electrode properties for clinical devices. The development of a sound theoretical basis for charge transfer at this increasingly important interface is being advocated to improve clinical outcomes and device lifetime and reduce power usage.     

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of copper(II), manganese(III) phthalocyanines bearing chalcone groups at peripheral or nonperipheral positions

In this study, new chalcone compound 1 , new phthalonitrile derivatives 2 and 3, new copper(II), manganese(III) phthalocyanines bearing chalcone groups at peripheral or nonperipheral positions were synthesized. Electrochemistry of tetra-(4-{(2 E )-3-[2-fluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]prop-2-enoyl}phenoxy) substituted Co(II)Pc and Mn(III)Pcs were studied with cyclic voltammetry (CV) to determine the redox properties of the phthalocyanines. According to the results, while the CuPcs 2a and 3a showed two Pc based reduction reactions and one Pc based oxidation reaction, MnPcs 2b and 3b gave two metal-based reduction reactions. All the redox processes are shifted toward positive potentials as a result of the increased electron-withdrawing ability of the trifluoromethyl substituents.     

以伏安法测电阻为例谈大学中学物理实验教学的衔接

大学中学物理实验教学衔接是实验教学的重要问题,本文在分析了当前物理实验教学现状的基础上,以伏安法测电阻为例,指出了解决该问题的具体办法,为大学中学物理实验教学衔接探索了一条可行的途径。     

RCCo_3(CO)_9的电化学和RCCo_3(CO)_9~-的ESR谱研究

本文对三种RCCo_3(CO)_9及相应的自由基进行了电化学和ESR谱研究.电化学研究表明,RCCo_3(CO)_9被还原为自由基的难易与R的性质有关,RCCo_3(CO)_9在室温下可以稳定存在.在对分子轨道对称性分析的基础上对簇合物自由基的ESR谱进行了讨论.确定了超精细偶合常数的符号和未成对电子占据轨道的性质,计算了Co的3d轨道和4s轨道的自旋密度.     

Antioxidant behaviour of 2′‐hydroxy‐chalcones: a study of their electrochemical properties

The electrochemical behaviour of 13 chalcone analogues was systematically studied by means of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry at a glassy carbon (GC), gold and platinum working electrodes using two different supporting electrolyte/solvent combinations. It was found that chalcone analogues can be easily oxidized at both GC and gold working electrodes, but not at a platinum electrode. Principal component analysis was further employed to reveal similarities/dissimilarities between oxidation potentials, chronoamperometric signals and ability of the compounds to scavenge the reactive oxygen species H₂O₂. The study reveals the inverse proportional relationship between the scavenging ability of H₂O₂, expressed as IC₅₀, and chronoamperometric signal at 800 mV using gold as working electrode. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

HIGH ACCURACY NUMERICAL METHOD OF THIN-FILM PROBLEMS IN MICROMAGNETICS

In this paper, a new high accuracy numerical method for the thin-film problems of micron and submicron size ferromagnetic elements is proposed. For the computation of stray field, we use the finite element method(FEM) by introducing a semi-discrete artificial boundary condition [1, 2]. In our numerical experiments about the domain patterns and their movement, we can see that the results are accordant to that of experiments and other numerical methods. Our method are very convenient to deal with arbitrary shape of thin films such as a polygon with high accuracy.     

Cyclic voltammetry study of electrodeposition of CuGaSe2 thin films on ITO-glass substrates

The electrodeposition mechanism of CuGaSe₂ (CGS) thin films on ITO substrates has been investigated using cyclic voltammetry technique. The cyclic voltammetric study was performed in unitary Cu, Ga and Se systems, binary Cu–Se, Ga–Se systems and ternary Cu–Ga–Se system. The electrodeposition metallic Ga from Ga unitary electrolytes is impossible due to its low reduction potential. No reduction peak was found for the reduction of Ga³⁺ to Ga in the cyclic voltammogram of unitary system. However, in the cyclic voltammogram of ternary Cu–Ga–Se system, reduction peak at −0.6 V was observed with addition of GaCl₃. Also, current density of the peak was increased with increasing concentration of GaCl₃. It is corresponded to the formation of gallium selenides and/or copper–gallium–selenium compounds. The contents of Ga in the films were significantly changed from −0.4 V to −0.6 V. SEM and XRD analysis also showed that surface morphology and crystalline phase of films were significantly changed with increasing Ga content.