Molecular sensing with the tunnel junction of an Au nanogap in solution

The tunnel junction of a gold nanogap was fabricated electrochemically for a molecular sensing device in solution. The tunnel junction was sensitive enough to detect the variation of a potential barrier within the nanogap, such as the chemical adsorption of molecules. By monitoring the variation of the tunneling current, which represents the change of a potential barrier due to molecular adsorption, the molecules could be detected.

Measuring the electronic decay constant of alkanedithiols by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Several methods have been used for the measurement of the electronic decay constant (beta) of organic molecules. However, each of them has some disadvantages. For the first time, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to obtain the 18 value by measuring the tunneling resistance through alkanedithiols. The tunneling resistance through alkanedithiols increases exponentially with the molecular length in terms of the mechanism of coherent nonresonant tunneling. beta was 0.51 +/- 0.01 per carbon.

Application of impedance spectroscopy for monitoring colloid Au-enhanced antibody immobilization and antibody-antigen reactions

We used colloidal An to enhance the amount of antibody immobilized on a gold electrode and ultimately monitored the interaction of antigen-antibody by impedance measurement. Self-assembly of 6 nm (diameter) colloidal An onto the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 4-aminothiophenol modified gold electrode resulted in an easier attachment of antibody. The redox reactions of [Fe(CN)(6)](4-)/[Fe(CN)(6)](3-) on the gold surface were blocked due to the procedures of self-assembly of 4-aminothiophenol and antibody immobilization, which were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. The interaction of antigen with grafted antibody recognition layers was carried out by soaking the modified electrode into a phosphate buffer at pH 7.4 with various concentrations of antigen at 37 degreesC for 30 min. The antibody recognition layers and their interactions with various concentrations of antigen could be detected by measurements of the impedance change. The results show that this method has good correlation for detection of Hepatitis B virus surface antigen in the range of 0.5-200 mug/l and a detection limit of about 50 ng/l.

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence sensing platform using Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) doped silica nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes

An effective electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor was developed by coimmobilization of the Ru(bpy)(2)(3+)-doped silica (RuDS) nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on glassy carbon electrode through hydrophobic interaction. The uniform RuDS nanoparticles were prepared by a water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsion method and Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) doped inside could still maintain its high ECL efficiency. With such unique immobilization method, a great deal of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) was immobilized three-dimensionally on the electrode , which could greatly enhance the ECL response and result in the increased sensitivity. On the other hand, CNTs played dual roles as matrix to immobilize RuDS nanoparticles and promoter to accelerate the electron transfer between Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and the electrode. The as-prepared ECL sensor displayed good sensitivity and stability.

Hydrothermal growth and gas sensing property of flower-shaped SnS2 nanostructures

Unusual 3D flower-shaped SnS2 nanostructures have been synthesized using a mild hydrothermal treatment in the presence of octyl-phenol-ethoxylate ( Triton X-100) at 160 degrees C. The nanostructures have an average size of 1 mu m, and consist of interconnected nanosheets with thicknesses of about 40 nm. Based on time-dependent experimental results, we ascribe the oriented attachment mechanism to the growth of the SnS2 nanostructures. The nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 plays a key role in the formation of the flower-like morphology. Room temperature gas-sensing measurements show that the 3D SnS2 nanostructures could serve as sensor materials for the detection of NH3 molecules.

Application of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for monitoring allergen-antibody reactions using gold nanoparticle-based biomolecular immobilization method

Gold nanoparticles were used to enhance the immobilization amount and retain the immunoactivity of recombinant dust mite allergen Der f2 immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The interaction between allergen and antibody was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Self-assembled Au colloid layer (Phi = 16 nm) deposited on (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTS)-modified GCE offered a basis to control the immobilization of allergen Der f2. The impedance measurements were based on the charge transfer kinetics of the [Fe(CN)(6)](3-/4-) redox pair, compared with bare GCE, the immobilization of allergen Der f2 and the allergen-antibody interaction that occurred on the electrode surface altered the interfacial electron transfer resistance and thereby slowed down the charge transfer kinetics by reducing the active area of the electrode or by preventing the redox species in electrolyte solution from approaching the electrode. The interactions of allergen with various concentrations of monoclonal antibody were also monitored through the change of impedance response. The results showed that the electron transfer resistance increased with increasing concentrations of monoclonal antibody.

Assembly of multilayer films containing iron(III)- substituted Dawson-type heteropolyanions and its electrocatalytic properties: cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectrometry

Ultrathin multilayer films have been prepared by means of alternate adsorption of iron(Ill)-substituted heteropolytungstate anions and a cationic redox polymer on the 4-aminobenzoic acid modified glassy carbon electrode surface based on electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly. Cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and UV-Vis absorption spectrometry have been used to easily monitor the uniformity of thus-formed multilayer films. Especially, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is successfully used to monitor the multilayer deposition processes and is a very useful technique in the characterization of multilayer films because it provides valuable information about the interfacial impedance features. All these results reveal regular film growth with each layer adsorption. The resulting multilayer films can effectively catalyze the reduction of H2O2,NO2- and BrO3-.

Amplified DNA detection sensitivity using streptavidin-biotinylated protein complex: Characterization by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Thiol-terminated oligonucleotide was immobilized to gold surface by self-assembly method. A novel amplification strategy was introduced for improving the sensitivity of DNA. hybridization using biotin labeled protein-streptavidin network complex. This complex can be formed in a cross-linking network of molecules so that the amplification of the response signal will be realized due to the big molecular size of the complex. It could be proved from the impedance technique that this amplification strategy caused dramatic improvement of the detection sensitivity. These results give significant advances in the generality and sensitivity as it is applied to biosensing.

Study of the ionic conductivity of polymer electrolyte using imaginary impedance spectroscopy

Polymeric electrolytes of (PEO1)(10) LiClO4-Al2O3 (PEO: poly (ethyleneoxide)) and (PEO2)(16)LiClO4-EC (EC: ethylene carbonate) were prepared. We proposed an equivalent circuit and gave the meaning of the concerned circuit elements. When the impedance spectrum deformed severely, the ionic conductivity of polymer electrolyte was determined by using the maximum of imaginary impedance, which is a convenient method.

Study of the interaction between lanthanide ions and a supported bilayer lipid membrane by cyclic voltammetry and ac impedance

The interaction of lanthanide ions with a supported bilayer lipid (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine) membrane (sBLM) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and ac impedance spectroscopy in this paper, Lanthanide can affect the conformation of the supported bilayer lipid membrane and cause pore formation. Through the pores, Fe(CN)(6)(3) (4) can reach the electrode surface and show its redox behaviour. Furthermore the redox currents or Fe(CN)(6)(3) (4) increased with increasing concentration of lanthanides and leveled off at 1.2 muM for Eu3+. The interaction ability of three lanthanides with sBLM follows the sequence: Eu3+ > Tb3+ > La3+.

Characterization of organic-inorganic multilayer films by cyclic voltammetry, UV-Vis spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray diffraction and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

We have employed several techniques, including cyclic voltammetry, UV-Vis spectrometry, small-angle X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, to characterize the formation processes and interfacial features of ultrathin multilayer films of silicotungstate and a cationic redox polymer on cysteamine-coated Au electrodes self-assembled monolayers. All of these techniques confirm that the multilayer films are built up stepwise as well as uniformly in a layer-by-layer fashion. In particular, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is successfully used to monitor the multilayer deposition processes. It has been proved that the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is a very useful technique in characterization of multilayer films because it provides valuable information about the interfacial impedance features.

Study on sensing properties of tin oxide CO gas sensor with low power consumption

In this paper, the fabrication method of a new type of carbon monoxide gas sensor based on SnOx with low power consumption and its sensing characteristics have been reported. The electric conductance of this type of sensor evolves oscillation form regularly when the sensor is exposed to low level of CO gas. The oscillation amplitude is directly proportional to the concentration of CO gas over a wide range. The effects of relevant factors. such as. humidity, temperature and interference gases on the sensor properties were examined. The sensing oscillation response mechanism was also discussed.

Study on surface acid-base property of carboxylic acid-terminated self-assembled monolayers by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to study the surface acid-base property of carboxylic acid-terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). A carboxylic acid-terminated thiol, such as thioctic acid (1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic add), was self-assembled on gold electrodes. Electron transfer between the bulk solution and the SAM modified electrode was studied at different pH using Fe(CN)(6)(3-) as a probe. The surface pK(a) of thioctic acid was determined by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to be 5.6 +/- 0.1 and 5.8 +/- 0.1, respectively. The method is compared with other methods of monolayer pK(a) measurement.

Molecular orientation of copper phthalocyanine in thin films and their gas-sensing properties

Copper phthalocyanine derivative Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films were prepared by vertical dipping and horizontal lifting methods. Molecular orientation of copper phthalocyanine derivative in thin films was studied by polarized UV-Vis spectra. The relationship between the molecular orientation of copper phthalocyanine in LB films and their gas-sensing properties was investigated.

Methods to study the ionic conductivity of polymeric electrolytes using a.c. impedance spectroscopy

Composite polymeric electrolytes of PEO-LiClO4-Al2O3 and PEO-LiClO4-EC were prepared and the ionic conductivity by a.c. impedance was calculated using four different methods, and three kinds of representations of a.c. impedance spectra were adopted. The first is based on the Nyquist impedance plot of the imaginary part (Z") versus the real part (Z') of the complex impedance. The second and the third correspond to the plots of imaginary impedance Z" as a function of frequency (f), and the absolute value (\Z\) and phase angle (theta) as a function of f, respectively. It was found that the values of the ionic conductivity calculated using the three representations of a.c. impedance spectra are basically identical.