Sensor–actuator system for dynamic chloride ion determination

Chloride is a crucial anion for various analytical applications from biological to environmental applications. In order to measure the chloride ion concentration, a measurement system is needed which can detect this concentration for prolonged times reliably. Chronopotentiometry is a technique which does not need a long term stable reference electrode and is therefore very suitable for prolonged ion concentration measurements. As the used electrode might be fouled by reaction products, this work focuses on a chronopotentiometric approach with a separated sensing electrode (sensor) and actuating electrode (actuator). Both actuation and sensor electrode are made of Ag/AgCl. A constant current is applied to the actuator and will start the reaction between Ag and Clˉ, while the resulting Clˉ ion concentration change is observed through the sensor, which is placed close to the actuator. The time it takes to locally deplete the Clˉ ions is called transition time. Experiments were performed to verify the feasibility of this approach. The performed experiments show that the sensor detects the local concentration changes resulting from the current applied to the actuator. A linear relation between the Clˉ ion concentration and the square root of the transition time was observed, just as was predicted by theory. The calibration curves for different chips showed that both a larger sensor and a larger distance between sensor and actuator resulted in a larger time delay between the transition time detected at the actuator and the sensor.     

An integrated platform for gas-diffusion separation and electrochemical determination of ethanol on fermentation broths

An integrated platform was developed for point-of-use determination of ethanol in sugar cane fermentation broths. Such analysis is important because ethanol reduces its fuel production efficiency by altering the alcoholic fermentation step when in excess. The custom-designed platform integrates gas diffusion separation with voltammetric detection in a single analysis module. The detector relied on a Ni(OH)₂-modified electrode. It was stabilized by uniformly depositing cobalt and cadmium hydroxides as shown by XPS measurements. Such tests were in accordance with the hypothesis related to stabilization of the Ni(OH)₂ structure by insertion of Co²⁺ and Cd²⁺ ions in this structure. The separation step, in turn, was based on a hydrophobic PTFE membrane, which separates the sample from receptor solution (electrolyte) where the electrodes were placed. Parameters of limit of detection and analytical sensitivity were estimated to be 0.2% v/v and 2.90 μA % (v/v)⁻¹, respectively. Samples of fermentation broth were analyzed by both standard addition method and direct interpolation in saline medium based-analytical curve. In this case, the saline solution exhibited ionic strength similar to those of the samples intended to surpass the tonometry colligative effect of the samples over analyte concentration data by attributing the reduction in quantity of diffused ethanol vapor majorly to the electrolyte. The approach of analytical curve provided rapid, simple and accurate analysis, thus contributing for deployment of point-of-use technologies. All of the results were accurate with respect to those obtained by FTIR method at 95% confidence level.     

The Influencing Mechanism of Acidity on the Oxidation Peak Currents of Uric Acid and Ascorbic Acid at the PACPE by Cyclic Voltammetry

In this paper, a pre‐anodized carbon paste electrode (PACPE) is fabricated by a simple electrochemical pretreatment method, which can be used for the simultaneous determination of uric acid (UA) and ascorbic acid (AA). The influencing mechanism of the acidity on the size of oxidation peak current (i_p,a) of UA and AA is discussed in detail. According to the results, in different pH conditions, the intensity of hydrogen bonding between UA, AA and the surface of PACPE, the degree of reduction reaction at the auxiliary electrode, and the structural configurations of UA and AA with different species in reaction system have evident influence on the size of oxidation peak current. In pH 7.00 phosphate buffer solution, the calibration curves for UA and AA are obtained in the range of 5.0 x 10^‐7–5.0 x 10^‐5 mol/L and 3.0 x 10^‐5–5.0 x 10^‐3 mol/L, respectively. The detection limits for UA and AA are found to be 2.0 x 10^‐8 mol/L and 1.2 x 10^‐6 mol/L, respectively. This proposed method has been successfully applied to determine UA and AA in human urine simultaneously with satisfactory results.     

A microconductometric biosensor based on lipase extracted from Candida rugosa for direct and rapid detection of organophosphate pesticides

Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) have been intensively used as insecticides in agriculture; after entering the aquatic environment, they may affect a wide range of organisms. A conductometric enzymatic biosensor based on lipase extracted from Candida rugosa (CRL) has therefore been developed for the direct and rapid quantitative detection of organophosphate pesticides: diazinon, methyl parathion and methyl paraoxon in water. The biosensor signal and response time were obtained under optimum conditions, the enzyme being immobilised in the presence of gold nanoparticles. Under these conditions, the enzymatic biosensor was able to measure concentrations as low as 60 µg/L of diazinon, 26 µg/L of methyl parathion and 25 µg/L of methyl paraoxon very rapidly (response time: 3 min). Moreover, this CRL biosensor was not sensitive to interferences such as carbamates. It presented good storage stability for 21 days when kept at 4°C and it was successfully applied to real samples.     

Efficient Counter Electrode Manufactured from Ag2S Nanocrystal Ink for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

It is generally believed that silver or silver‐based compounds are not suitable counter electrode (CE) materials for dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) due to the corrosion of the I^?/I₃^? redox couple in electrolytes. However, Ag₂S has potential applications in DSSCs for catalyzing I₃^? reduction reactions because of its high carrier concentration and tiny solubility product constant. In the present work, CE manufactured from Ag₂S nanocrystals ink exhibited efficient electrocatalytic activity in the reduction of I₃^? to I^? in DSSCs. The DSSC consisting of Ag₂S CE displayed a higher power conversion efficiency of 8.40 % than that of Pt CE (8.11 %). Moreover, the devices also showed the characteristics of fast activity onset, high multiple start/stop capability and good irradiated stability. The simple composition, easy preparation, stable chemical property, and good catalytic performance make the developed Ag₂S CE as a promising alternative to Pt CE in DSSCs.     

机械剥离石墨烯修饰电极检测食品接触材料中双酚A的迁移量

采用机械剥离石墨烯修饰电极快速检测食品接触材料中双酚A的迁移量。X射线电子衍射表征显示机械剥离石墨烯表面不存在含氧官能团,与化学还原石墨烯相比,机械剥离石墨烯对双酚A具有更好的电催化性能,降低了双酚A的氧化过电位,提高了电流响应。在优化的试验条件下,双酚A的浓度在1.0×10-7~1.5×10-5mol·L-1范围内与氧化峰电流呈线性关系,检出限(3S/N)为3.0×10-8mol·L-1。采用该电极对食品模拟物中的双酚A进行检测,加标回收率在85.1%~104%之间,测定值的相对标准偏差(n=6)在2.7%~5.9%之间。     

The selectivity of triethylene glycol modified glassy carbon electrode for charged and uncharged pieces

A triethylene glycol modified glassy carbon electrode(TEG–GCE) was fabricated by a controlledpotential electrolysis procedure. The performance of the film on the modified electrode surface was investigated by cyclic voltammetry with different probes. It was firstly found that while neutral pieces could penetrate the TEG film on the GCE surface, the ionic pieces, whatever it is anion or cation, was blocked by the film. This property was successfully used for determining dopamine(DA) in the presence of ascorbic acid(AA) with differential pulse voltammetry(DPV).     

吡罗昔康在纳米Fe_3O_4-石墨烯复合修饰玻碳电极上的电化学行为及电分析研究

采用纳米Fe3O4粒子(nano-Fe3O4)和石墨烯(Reduced Graphene Oxide,RGO)制备了nano-Fe3O4-RGO复合材料修饰玻碳电极(nano-Fe3O4-RGO/GCE),采用循环伏安法(cyclic voltammetry,CV),方波伏安法(square wave voltammetry,SWV),计时电流法(chronoamperometry,CA),计时库仑法(chronocoulometry,CC)研究了吡罗昔康(Piroxicam,PC)在此复合修饰电极上的电化学行为及电化学动力学性质。实验结果表明,与GCE相比,nano-Fe3O4-RGO/GCE对PC的电化学氧化作用有显著的促进作用,其氧化峰电流显著增加;对各种实验条件进行了优化,测得峰电流Ipa与PC浓度在2.0×10-6~2.0×10-4mol·L-1范围内呈良好的线性关系,检出限(S/N=3)为5.3×10-7mol·L-1,加标回收率为100.0%~104.0%。该方法快速,灵敏,并将nano-Fe3O4-RGO/GCE用于市售吡罗昔康片剂的测定,结果符合定量测定要求。     

芬苯达唑在石墨烯与[Bupy]PF_6复合修饰碳糊电极上的电化学性质及电分析方法研究

本文研究了芬苯达唑(Fenbendazole,FBZ)在石墨烯(RGO)与离子液体(N-丁基吡啶六氟磷酸盐)复合修饰碳糊电极上的电催化氧化及电化学动力学性质。同时用CC法(计时库仑法)、计时电流法(CA)测定FBZ在RGO-[Bupy]PF6/CPE上的电极反应动力学参数,并用方波伏安法(SWV)测定FBZ氧化峰电流(Ip)与其浓度c在4.0×10-8~1.0×10-5mol·L-1范围内呈良好线性关系,线性回归方程为Ip(μA)=1.471+5220.78c(10-3mol·L-1),R=0.9995,检测限(S/N=3)为1.4×10-9mol·L-1,在此基础上用SWV法对FBZ片剂中FBZ含量进行了电化学定量测定,RSD在0.2%~0.9%之间,回收率在99.0%~101.4%之间。     

氧化锌修饰铅笔芯电极电致化学发光法测定苯酚的研究

采用滴涂法将氧化锌纳米颗粒滴涂在自制铅笔芯电极上制成氧化锌修饰铅笔芯电极,当以过硫酸根为共反应剂时,该修饰电极在氢氧化钠溶液中具有良好的电致化学发光(ECL)行为,对其发光机理进行了考察。基于苯酚对该修饰电极的ECL具有抑制作用,建立了一种测量苯酚的新方法,当苯酚浓度为2×10~(-8)~2×10~(-6)mol/L时,发光强度与苯酚浓度的对数呈线性关系,检出限为1×10~(-8)mol/L。该方法具有灵敏度高、方法简单、快速、稳定性好等优点,将其应用于工业废水中苯酚浓度的检测,回收率为96.5%~104.5%。