Gasochromic Effect in Platinum-Doped Tungsten Trioxide Films Prepared by the Sol-Gel Method

Tungsten oxide doped by a complex of platinum exhibits a gasochromic effect. A reversible coloration is observed on successive exposure to hydrogen and air. The films were prepared by the sol-gel method at room temperature. They showed strong darkening (blue color) on exposure to hydrogen and were bleached completely when exposed to air. The proccess has been reproduced completely hundreds of times without any losses. The cycling of the coloration was obtained from UV-Vis spectra and the mechanism deduced from both visible and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. Colorimetric properties of the gasochromic films were expressed in color space chromaticity diagram.     

Soil-modified carbon paste electrode: a useful tool in environmental assessment of heavy metal ion binding interactions

Carbon paste electrodes (CPEs) modified with different soils in their native form were prepared to create a soil-like solid phase suitable for application in studies of heavy metal ion uptake and binding interactions. The preparation of CPEs modified with five different soils was examined and their heavy metal ion uptake behavior investigated using a model Cu(II) aqueous solution. Metal ions were accumulated under open circuit conditions and were determined after a medium exchange using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry, applying preelectrolysis at -0.7 V. The soil-modified CPE accumulation behavior, including the linearity of the current response versus Cu(II) concentration, the influence of the pH on the solution, and the uptake kinetics, was thoroughly investigated. The correlation between the soil-modified CPE uptake capability and the standard soil parameters, such as ion exchange capacity, soil pH, organic matter and clay content, were evaluated for all five examined soils. The influence of selected endogenous cations (K(I), Ca(II), Fe(III)) on the transfer of Cu(II) ions from a solution to the simulated soil solid phase was examined and is discussed. Preliminary examinations of the soil-modified CPE uptake behavior with some exogenous heavy metal ions of strong environmental interest (Pb(II), Hg(II), Cd(II) and Ag(I)) are also presented. This work demonstrates some attractive possibilities for the application of a soil-modified CPE in studying soil-heavy metal ion binding interactions, with a further potential use as a new environmental sensor appropriate for fist on-site testing of polluted soils.     

Carbon black nanoparticles film electrode prepared by using substrate-induced deposition approach

A new type of carbon film electrode, composed of a thin layer of tightly packed carbon black (CB) nanoparticles deposited onto a gelatin-covered indium tin oxide/glass support using the surface-induced deposition (SID) approach, is presented. Some parameters of the novel SID method were optimized and the surface image and functionalization of the investigated carbon black film electrode (CBFE) was inspected by employing scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. A cyclic voltammetry (CV) study was conducted in which the electron-transfer kinetics and CBFE interfacial characteristics were evaluated employing several selected reference redox systems, such as [Ru(NH₃)₆]^3+/2+, [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4− and Fe^3+/2+ in aqueous, and ferrocene/ferrocenium in acetonitrile media. CV recordings were also performed in order to compare the electrochemical behavior of the CBFE with that of some well-known and established bare carbon-based electrodes. In order to confirm the validity of the CB film preparation method, the electroanalytical performance of the proposed CBFE was examined by carrying out linear sweep voltammetry of ascorbic acid (AA), anodic stripping square-wave voltammetry of Cu(II) in acidic medium, and amperometric measurements of hydrogen peroxide under flow injection conditions. The sensing characteristics of the novel carbon film electrode, demonstrated in this preliminary study, comprise: (i) a wide working potential window ranging from +1.0 to −1.3 V (depending on the solution pH), (ii) a wide applicable pH range (at least from 2 to 12), (iii) low voltammetric background (<5 μA cm⁻²), (iv) a satisfactory linear voltammetric and amperometric response (r² > 0.99) to various analytes, (v) good reproducibility (for example, r.s.d. of 2% in amperometric detection of H₂O₂ and r.s.d. of 8.5% for electrode-to-electrode CV runs), and (vi) stable and fast current response (at least 100 CV runs with negligible change in CV response). The main advantages of the proposed CBFE originate from the unique CB film formation procedure that enables fast, simple, inexpensive and non-toxic CBFE preparation, which can find application in advanced electrochemical devices and is suitable for mass production.