EFFECT OF PH ON THE ELECTRON-TRANSFER OF CYTOCHROME-C ON A GOLD ELECTRODE MODIFIED WITH BIS(4-PYRIDYL)DISULPHIDE

The adsorption of bis(4-pyridyl)disulphide (PySSPy) and 4.4'-bipyridyl (PyPy) on a gold electrode was studied using cyclic voltammetry. The adsorption isotherms and equilibrium constants (1 X 10(6) mol-1 l for PyPy and 6 x 10(6) Mol-1 l for PySSPy) were determined. The effect of pH on the electrochemical behaviour of cytochrome c was studied on the PySSPy-modified gold electrode. The results show that cytochrome c can only transfer electrons on a deprotonated electrode surface. When the pH is decreased, the standard heterogeneous rate constant of cytochrome c on the modified gold electrode decreases and the electrochemical behaviour changes from a quasi-reversible to an irreversible process.