Renewable-surface amperometric nitrite sensor based on sol-gel-derived silicomolybdate-methylsilicate-graphite composite material

A new type of silicomolybdate-methylsilicate-graphite composite material was prepared by the sol-gel technique and used for the fabrication of an amperometric nitrite sensor. The silicomolybdic anion acts as a catalyst, the graphite powder ensures conductivity by percolation, the silicate provides a rigid porous backbone and the methyl groups endow hydrophobicity and thus limit the wetting section of the modified electrode. Cyclic voltammetry, square-wave voltammetry and chronoamperometry were employed to characterize the sensor. The amperometric nitrite sensor exhibited a series of good properties: high sensitivity (1.771 mu A mmol(-1) dm(3)), a short response time (7 s), remarkable long-term stability and especially reproducibility of surface renewal in the event of electrode surface fouling.

Nanostructured hybrid organic-inorganic lanthanide complex films produced in situ via a sol-gel approach

Communication: Nanostructural hybrid organic-inorganic lanthanide complex films were prepared in situ by use of a novel sol-gel precursor containing pendant triethoxy-silyl and carboxyl groups (see Figure). The resulting transparent and crack-free films gave rise to strong red or green emission, even at low lanthanide ion concentration. Phase separation and lanthanide ion aggregation were controlled at the nanoscale.

Sol-gel-derived amperometric biosensor for hydrogen peroxide based on methylene green incorporated in Nafion film

A hydrogen peroxide biosensor was fabricated by coating a sol-gel-peroxidase layer onto a Nafion-methylene green modified electrode. Immobilization of methylene green (MG) was attributed to the electrostatic force between MG(+) and the negatively charged sulfonic acid groups in Nafion polymer, whereas immobilization of horseradish peroxidase was attributed to the encapsulation function of the silica sol-gel network. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were employed to demonstrate the feasibility of electron transfer between sol-gel-immobilized peroxidase and a glassy carbon electrode. Performance of the sensor was evaluated with respect to response time, sensitivity as well as operational stability. The enzyme electrode has a sensitivity of 13.5 mu A mM(-1) with a detection limit of 1.0 x 10(-7) M H2O2, and the sensor achieved 95% of the steady-state current within 20 s. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Amperometric enzyme electrode for the determination of hydrogen peroxide based on sol-gel/hydrogel composite film

A new type of organic-inorganic composite material was prepared by sol-gel method, and a peroxidase biosensor was fabricated by simply dropping sor-gel-peroxidase mixture onto glassy carbon electrode surface. The sol-gel composite film and enzyme membrane were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and EQCM, the electrochemical behavior of the biosensor was studied with potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) as a mediator, and the effects of pH and operating potential were explored for optimum analytical performance by using amperometric method. The response time of the biosensor was about 10 s; the linear range was up to 3.4 mM with a detection limit of 5 x 10(-7) M. The sensor also exhibited high sensitivity (15 mu A mM(-1)) and good long-term stability. In addition, the performance of the biosensor was investigated using flow injection analysis (FIA), and the determination of hydrogen peroxide in real samples was discussed. (C)2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Radiation effects on the immiscible polymer blend of nylon1010 and high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) I: Gel/dose curves, mathematical expectation theorem and thermal behaviour

This paper studies the radiation properties of the immiscible blend of nylon1010 and HIPS. The gel fraction increased with increasing radiation dose. The network was found mostly in nylon1010, the networks were also found in both nylon1010 and HIPS when the dose reaches 0.85 MGy or more. We used the Charleby-Pinner equation and the modified Zhang-Sun-Qian equation to simulate the relationship with the dose and the sol fraction. The latter equation fits well with these polymer blends and the relationship used by it showed better linearity than the one by the Charleby-Pinner equation. We also studied the conditions of formation of the network by the mathematical expectation theorem for the binary system. Thermal properties of polymer blend were observed by DSC curves. The crystallization temperature decreases with increasing dose because the cross-linking reaction inhibited the crystallization procession and destroyed the crystals. The melting temperature also reduced with increasing radiation dose. The dual melting peak gradually shifted to single peak and the high melting peak disappeared at high radiation dose. However, the radiation-induced crystallization was observed by the heat of fusion increasing at low radiation dose. On the other hand, the crystal will be damaged by radiation. A similar conclusion may be drawn by the DSC traces when the polymer blends were crystallized. When the radiation dose increases, the heat of fusion reduces dramatically and so does the heat of crystallization. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Construction of a heteropolyanion-modified electrode by a two-step sol-gel method and its electro catalytic applications

The sol-gel technique was used here to construct heteropolyanion-containing modified electrodes. This involves two steps, i.e. the first forming a functionalized sol-gel thin film on the surface of the glassy carbon electrode and then immersing the electrode into a heteropolyanion solution to incorporate the heteropolyanion into the sol-gel film. Here a Dawson-type heteropolyanion, K6P2W18O62 (P2W18), was used as a representative to illuminate the behavior of the as-prepared composite film. The electrochemical performance of the P2W18-modified electrode was studied with respect to the pH effect and long-term stability. The modified electrode exhibited a high electrocatalytic response for the reduction of BrO3- and NO2-. Steady-state amperometry was applied to characterize the electrode as an amperometric sensor for the determination of NO2-. The sensor had a linear range from 0.02 to 34 mM and a detection limit of 5 x 10(-6) M. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

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.

Sol-gel deposition of calcium silicate red-emitting luminescent films doped with Eu3+

Eu3+-activated calcium silicate (CaO-SiO2:Eu3+) luminescent films were prepared by the sol-gel method. The structural evolution of the film was studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the luminescence properties of the phosphor films were investigated as a function of heat treatment temperature. The XRD study indicates that a kilchoanite phase forms in the film sintered at 800 degreesC, which is different from that in gel powder treated under the same conditions. The SEM results show that the film thickness decreases and the particles in the film become smaller with increasing heat treatment temperature. The CaO-SiO2:Eu film shows the characteristic emission of Eu3+ under UV excitation, with the Eu3+ D-5(0)-->F-7(2) band (616 nm) being the most prominent. A large difference in the Eu3+ lifetime is observed between the film samples treated at 500 and 700 degreesC (or above). Concentration quenching occurs when the Eu3+ doping concentration is above 6 mol% of Ca2+ in the film.

Sol-gel-derived carbon ceramic electrode containing 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, and its electrocatalytic activity toward iodate

9,10-Phenanthrenequinone (PQ) supported on graphite powder by adsorption was dispersed in propyltrimethoxysilane-derived gels to yield a conductive composite which was used as electrode material to fabricate a PQ-modified carbon ceramic electrode. In this configuration, PQ acts as a catalyst, graphite powder guarantees conductivity by percolation, the silicate provides a rigid porous backbone, and the propyl groups endow hydrophobicity and thus limit the wetting region of the modified electrode. Square-wave voltammetry was exploited to investigate the pH-dependent electrochemical behavior of the composite electrode and an almost Nernstian response was obtained from pH 0.42 to 6.84. Because the chemically modified electrode can electrocatalyze the reduction of iodate in acidic aqueous solution (pH 2.45), it was used as an amperometric sensor for the determination of iodate in table salt. The advantages of the electrode are that it can be polished in the event of surface fouling, it is simple to prepare, has excellent chemical and mechanical stability, and the reproducibility of surface-renewal is good.

Amperometric tyrosinase biosensor based on a sol-gel-derived titanium oxide-copolymer composite matrix for detection of phenolic compounds

A new type of tyrosinase biosensor was developed for the detection of phenolic compounds, based on the immobilization of tyrosinase in a sol-gel-derived composite matrix that is composed of titanium oxide sol and a grafting copolymer of poly(vinyl alcohol) with 4-vinylpyridine. Tyrosinase entrapped in the composite matrix can retain its activity to a large extent owing to the good biocompatibility of the matrix. The parameters of the fabrication process and the variables of the experimental conditions for the enzyme electrode were optimized. The resulting sensor exhibited a fast response (20 s), high sensitivity (145.5 muA mmol(-1) 1) and good storage stability. A detection limit of 0.5 muM catechol was obtained at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3.

Conductive polyaniline/silica hybrids from sol-gel process

A hybrid material with a conductive organic network in an inorganic matrix has been prepared by in-situ hydrolysis/polycondensation of TEOS in an aqueous solution of a solubilized polyaniline. Due to intense hydrogen bonding (indicated by Si-29 NMR and FTIR) the conductive polymer is very well dispersed in the silica matrix. The Figure shows SEM images of a 46/54 wt.-% hybrid at two temperatures (left 20 degreesC, right 100 degreesC).

Amperometric biosensor for hydrogen peroxide based on sol-gel/hydrogel composite thin film

A reagentless amperometric hydrogen peroxide biosensor was developed. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was immobilized in a novel sol-gel organic-inorganic hybrid matrix that is composed of silica sol and a grafting copolymer of poly(vinyl alcohol) with 4-vinylpyridine (PVA-g-PVP). Tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) was employed as a mediator and could lower the operating potential to -50 mV (versus Ag/AgCl). The sensor achieved 95% of the steady-state current in 15 s. Linear calibration for hydrogen peroxide was up to 1.3 mM with the detection limit of 2.5 x 10(-7)M. The enzyme electrode retained about 94% of its initial activity after 30 days of storage in a dry state at 4 degreesC.

Hydrogen peroxide biosensor with enzyme entrapped within electrodeposited polypyrrole based on mediated sol-gel derived composite carbon electrode

A novel amperometric biosensor for the detection of hydrogen peroxide was described. The biosensor was constructed by electrodepositing HRP/PPy membrane on the surface of ferrocenecarboxylic acid mediated sol-gel derived composite carbon electrode. The biosensor gave response to hydrogen peroxide in a few seconds with detection limit of 5.0 x 10(-5) M (based on signal:noise = 3). Linear range was upto 0.2 mM. The biosensor exhibited a good stability. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Renewable manganous hexacyanoferrate-modified graphite organosilicate composite electrode and its electrocatalytic oxidation of L-cysteine

Manganous hexacyanoferrate (MnHCF) supported on graphite powder was dispersed into methyltrimethoxysilane-derived gels to yield a conductive composite, which was used as electrode material to construct a renewable three-dimensional MnHCF-modifed electrode. MnHCF acts as a catalyst, graphite powder ensures conductivity by percolation, the silicate provides a rigid porous backbone, and the methyl groups endow hydrophobicity and thus limit the wetting section of the modified electrode. Cyclic voltammetry was exploited to investigate the dependence of electrochemical behavior on supporting electrolytes containing various cations. The chemically modified electrode can electrocatalytically oxidize L-cysteine, and exhibits a distinct advantage of polishing in the event of surface fouling, as well as simple preparation, good chemical and mechanical stability, and good repeatability of surface renewal.