Stripping voltammetry of copper and lead using gold electrodes modified with self-assembled monolayers

One problem associated with using bare solid metal electrodes, such as gold and platinum, in stripping analysis to determine heavy metal ions such as lead and copper ions in dilute solutions is that underpotential deposition (UPD) gives multiple stripping peaks in the analysis of mixtures. These peaks are often overlapped and cannot be conveniently used for analytical purposes. Bifunctional alkylthiols, such as 3-mercaptopropionic acid, with an ionizable group on the other terminal end of the thiol can form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on the surface of the gold electrode. It is shown that such an SAM-modified gold electrode minimizes the UPD effects for the stripping analysis of lead and copper. The anodic peak potential shifts and the peak shape changes, indicating that the SAM changes the deposition and stripping steps of these heavy metal ions. Thus, the sensitivity levels for both single species and mixtures can be significantly improved for the conventional solid electrodes. The mechanism of the deposition reaction at the SAM-modified gold electrodes is discussed. Received: 29 May 1997 / Accepted: 24 June 1997     

Superoxide sensor based on cytochrome c immobilized on mixed-thiol SAM with a new calibration method

Cytochrome c was immobilized on a mixed-thiol (mercaptoundecanoic acid/mercaptoundecanol) modified gold electrode (MUA:MU/cyt c electrode). Characterization of the cyt c electrode showed a quasi-reversible, electrochemical redox behavior with a formal potential of −13±5 mV (versus Ag/AgCl) for the surface adsorbed protein and 3±5 mV for covalently immobilized cyt c. The heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants were determined to be about 70 and 40 s⁻¹ for both states of the protein, respectively. They were found to be significantly higher than those of pure MUA-modified cyt c electrodes (MUA/cyt c electrodes). The interaction of superoxide radicals (O₂⁻) with the (MUA:MU)/cyt c electrode was characterized and used for an amperometric O₂⁻ detection. The influence of H₂O₂ and uric acid on the sensor signal was investigated. The sensitivity of the (MUA:MU)/cyt c electrode to O₂⁻ was significantly improved compared with that of the MUA/cyt c electrode. Based on a kinetic model for the superoxide detection system, a new calibration method was established. This simple and fast method used the spontaneous dismutation of KO₂ and was compared with the enzymatic superoxide generation system using xanthine oxidase.     

Studies of the electrochemical behavior of epinephrine at a homocysteine self-assembled electrode

The self-assembled electrode with the homocysteine monolayer (Hcy/Au) has been characterized by infrared spectroscopy and ac impedance spectroscopy in electrolyte. The Hcy/Au electrode is demonstrated to promote the electrochemical response of epinephrine (E) by cyclic voltammetry. A pair of well-defined redox waves was obtained and the calculated standard rate constant (k_s) is 2.1×10⁻² cm s⁻¹ at the self-assembled electrode. The reduction peak of E can be used to determine the concentration of E in presence of ascorbic acid (AA) owing to the Hcy/Au also promoting the electrochemical oxidation of AA.     

Microscale sample deposition onto hydrophobic target plates for trace level detection of neuropeptides in brain tissue by MALDI-MS

A sample preparation method that combines a modified target plate with a nanoscale reversed-phase column (nanocolumn) was developed for detection of neuropeptides by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). A gold-coated MALDI plate was modified with an octadecanethiol (ODT) self-assembled monolayer to create a hydrophobic surface that could concentrate peptide samples into a approximately 200-500-microm diameter spot. The spot sizes generated were comparable to those obtained for a substrate patterned with 200-microm hydrophilic spots on a hydrophobic substrate. The sample spots on the ODT-coated plate were 100-fold smaller than those formed on an unmodified gold plate with a 1-microl sample and generated 10 to 50 times higher mass sensitivity for peptide standards by MALDI-TOF MS. When the sample was deposited on an ODT-modified plate from a nanocolumn, the detection limit for peptides was as low as 20 pM for 5-microl samples corresponding to 80 amol deposited. This technique was used to analyze extracts of microwave-fixed tissue from rat brain striatum. Ninety-eight putative peptides were detected including several that had masses matching neuropeptides expected in this brain region such as substance P, rimorphin, and neurotensin. Twenty-three peptides had masses that matched peaks detected by capillary liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization MS.     

偶氮苯自组装单分子膜中长程电子转移机理

利用自组装技术在金电极表面构造了具有不同前端健长度偶氮苯功能化的单分子膜体系：Au／S（CH2）nNHCO-N＝N-OCH2CH3（n＝2，3，4，6）．研究结果表明，仍氮苯到金电极的表现电子转移速率随它们之间的距离长度的增加而呈指数性的下降趋势．基于Marcus电子隧穿理论，得到了此自组装膜体系的长程电子隧穿系数ρ＝（1．35±0．2）／CH2在和可逆电活性分子自组装膜体系及理论计算相比较的基础上，从偶氮苯分子自组装膜结构与电子转移过程的关系角度对这一结果进行了分析和说明．     

Electrochemical Behavior of Epinephrine at a Penicillamine Self-Assembled Gold Electrode,and its Analytical Application

The fabrication and electrochemical characteristics of a penicillamine (PCA) self-assembled monolayer modified gold electrode were investigated. The self-assembled electrode shows obvious electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of epinephrine (EP). In phosphate buffer (pH 7.73), a sensitive oxidation peak was observed at 0.190V with the PCA modified Au electrode. The peak current is proportional to the concentration of EP in the range of 2.0×10^–56.0×10^–4molL^–1 and 5.0×10^–6 2.0×10^–4molL^–1 for cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with the detection limits of 1.8×10^–7 and 1.3×10^–7molL^–1, respectively. The possible reaction mechanism is also discussed. The PCA self-assembled monolayer modified gold electrode is highly stable and can be applied to the determination of EP in practical injection samples. Application is simple, rapid and produces accurate results.     

Aggregation effects on evaporation and the air/water interface of dodecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide solutions

 The system dodecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (DTAOH)–water was studied by surface tension, ion-selective electrodes and evaporation in an electrobalance. Results confirmed earlier conclusions about a stepwise aggregation mechanism in DTAOH solutions. The aggregation process started at a total concentration C _T=(2.51±0.10)×10^-4 mol dm^-3) which probably corresponds to the formation of dimers. At C _T= (1.300±0.041)×10^-3 mol dm^-3 there was a change in the surface and evaporation behavior, corresponding to the formation of small, fully ionized aggregates which grew with increasing concentration. At C _T= (1.108±0.010)×10^-2 mol dm^-3 the formation of true micelles with hydroxide counterions in the Stern layer did not change significantly the evaporation and adsorption behavior. This means that between this concentration and C _T=(3.02±0.28)× M28.8n10^-2 mol dm^-3, the changes in structure were gradual. At the latter concentration there was a sudden change in the monolayer state at the air/water interface, with a strong surfactant desorption, and a major change in evaporation behavior. The changes are compatible with the formation of few, large aggregates reducing the total concentration of kinetically independent solute units, which in turn increased the activity of the solvent. This phenomenon is in agreement with literature information. The reduction in the evaporation rate of water was mainly due to the reduction of the water activity, caused by colligative effects. The reduction of the effective area available for evaporation had only a slight effect in water evaporation. Received: 9 January 1997 Accepted: 19 October 1997     

Self-assembled monolayers on Au microelectrodes

Long chain alkanethiols self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) formed on Au microelectrodes showed higher sensitivity towards defects than the same monolayers on macroelectrodes. The analysis of cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) experiments performed on covered microelectrodes were consistent with the formation of pinholes of about 10 nm in diameter. Moreover, the EIS data exhibited a specific behavior that was interpreted invoking the short circuiting of the pinholes impedance by the surrounding surface of the microelectrode in the high frequency domain, whereas in the low frequencies, the surface covered by the SAM was assume to act as an insulator.     

苯乙烯－马来酸酐共聚物单分子膜的静、动态性质

对不同分子量的苯乙烯－马来酸酐共聚物（PSM）单分子膜的π－A等温线、微 分曲线进行了研究，讨论了PSM单分子膜成膜过程及分子量对膜相变的影响，并用 动态膜障振动法测定了PSM单分子膜的动态弹性，结果表明，分子链的相互作用（ 如卷曲和缠结）在膜的形成中起着重要的作用，并影响膜的静、动态性质，单分子 膜的动态弹性曲线有双峰，且前者比后者小，随分子量增大，膜的凝聚性、刚性和 稳定性都增强，动态弹性都增大；且分子链的相互作用对PSM单分子性质影响增大 ，压缩过程中单分子膜的相变更明显。     

Incorporation conditions guiding the aggregation of a glycosylphosphatidyl inositol (GPI)-anchored protein in Langmuir monolayers

This work investigates the process of incorporation of a glycosylphosphatidyl inositol (GPI)-anchored alkaline phosphatase into Langmuir monolayers of dimyristoyl phosphatidic acid (DMPA). Three different methods of protein incorporation were assayed. When the protein solution was injected below the air–water interface after formation of the lipid monolayer a micro-heterogeneous distribution of alkaline phosphatase throughout the interface was observed. Adsorption kinetics studied by fluorescence microscopy, associated with surface pressure measurements, led to the proposition of a model in which the protein penetration is modulated by the surface packing of the monolayer and intermolecular interactions occurring between the phospholipid and the protein. At initial surface pressures higher than 20 mN m⁻¹, the protein is quickly adsorbed on the interface and the lateral diffusion drives the alkyl chains to turn towards the air phase while the polypeptide moiety faces the aqueous subphase.