Nafion-graphene nanocomposite film as enhanced sensing platform for ultrasensitive determination of cadmium

In this work, an ultrasensitive platform for the detection of cadmium (Cd2+) combining the nafion-graphene nanocomposite film with differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) analysis was presented. It is found that this sensing platform exhibits enhanced response to the determination of the Cd2+ and has been used to determine the Cd2+ in real sample with good recovery.

High-sensitivity determination of lead and cadmium based on the Nafion-graphene composite film

Graphene nanosheets, dispersed in Nafion (Nafion-G) solution, were used in combination with in situ plated bismuth film electrode for fabricating the enhanced electrochemical sensing platform to determine the lead (Pb2+) and cadmium (Cd2+) by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). The electrochemical properties of the composite film modified glassy carbon electrode were investigated. It is found that the prepared Nafion-G composite film not only exhibited improved sensitivity for the metal ion detections, but also alleviated the interferences due to the synergistic effect of graphene nanosheets and Nafion. The linear calibration curves ranged from 0.5 mu g L-1 to 50 mu g L-1 for Pb2+ and 1.5 mu g L-1 to 30 mu g L-1 for Cd2+. respectively. The detection limits (S/N = 3) were estimated to be around 0.02 mu g L-1 for Pb2+ and Cd2+. The practical application of the proposed method was verified in the water sample determination.

Single-wall carbon nanotube-based voltammetric sensor and biosensor

The pH-sensitive property of the single-wall carbon nanotube modified electrode based oil the electroactive group on the single-wall carbon nanotube was explored by differential pulse voltammetry technique. In pH range 1-13 investigated in Britton-Robinson (B-R) buffer, the anodic peak shifted negatively along with the increase of pH exhibiting a reversible Nernstian response. Experiments were carried out to investigate the response of the single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) modified electrode to analytes associated with pH change. The response behavior of the modified electrode to ammonia was studied as an example. The potential response could reach equilibrium within 5 min. The modified electrode had good operational stability. Voltammetric urease and acetylcholinesterase biosensors were constructed by immobilizing the enzymes with sol-get hybrid material. The maximum potential shift could reach 0.130 and 0.220V for urea and acetylthiocholine, respectively. The methods for preparing sensor and biosensor were simple and reproducible and the range of analytes could be extended to substrates of other hydrolyases and esterases.

Simultaneous determination of dopamine and ascorbic acid at an in-site functionalized self-assembled monolayer on gold electrode

The in-site functionalization of 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) self-assembled monolayer on gold electrode at physiological pH yields a redox active monolayer of 4'-mercapto-N-phenylquinone diimine (MNPD). The functionalized electrode exhibits excellent electrocatalytic responses towards dopamine (DA) and ascorbic acid (AA), reducing the overpotentials by about 0.22 V and 0.34 V, respectively, with greatly enhanced current responses. Due to its different catalytic activities toward DA and AA, the modified electrode resolves the overlapping voltammetric responses of DA and AA into two well-defined voltammetric peaks by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), which can be used for the simultaneous determination of these species in a mixture. The catalytic peak current obtained from DPV was linearly related to DA and AA concentration in the ranges of 5.0 x 10-6 - 1.25 x 10-4 M and 8.0 x 10-6 - 1.3 x 10-4 M with correlation coefficient of 0.999 and 0.998, respectively. The detective limits (3sigma) for DA and AA were found to be 1.2 x 10-6 M and 2.4 x 10-6 M, respectively.

IrO2/SnO2 electrodes: prepared by sol-gel process and their electrocatalytic for pyrocatechol

IrO2/SnO2 (10%:90%, molar ratio) electrodes (ITEs) were prepared by the sol-gel method as an alternative to the electrode-position and thermal decomposition process. The electrodes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscope (AFM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). From the results of XRD, oxide films prepared at low temperature were in amorphous state, while hydrous IrO2 crystal and cassiterite phase SnO2 were formed at 300 degreesC or even to 500 degreesC. The highly porous structure was confirmed by AFM. The electrochemical experiments demonstrated that the sol-gel method made the ITEs having a fast electron transfer process with good stability and the optimal preparation temperature was 400 degreesC for the highest electroactivity. Furthermore, the electrocatalysis of pyrocatechol on the electrodes was investigated. A quasi-reversible process occurred and a linear range over three orders magnitude (1 x 10(-2) - 10 mM) was obtained by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Meanwhile the detection limit of pyrocatechol was 5 x 10(-3) mM. This study indicated that the sol-gel method was an appropriate route to prepare the IrO2/SnO2 electrodes for the electrocatalytic of pyrocatechol.

Application of ceramic carbon materials for solid-phase extraction of organic compounds

Ceramic carbon materials were developed as new sorbents for solid-phase extraction of organic compounds using chlorpromazine as a representative. The macroporosity and heterogeneity of ceramic carbon materials allow extracting a large amount of chlorpromazine over a short time. Thus, the highly sensitive and selective determination of chlorpromazine in urine sample was achieved by differential pulse voltammograms after only 1-min extraction. The total analysis time was less than 3 min. In comparison with other electrochemical and electrochemi-luminescent methods following 1-min extraction, the proposed method improved sensitivity by about 2 and 1 order of magnitude, respectively. The fast extraction, diversity, and conductivity of ceramic carbon materials make them promising sorbents for various solid-phase extractions, such as solid-phase microextraction, thin-film microextraction, and electrochemically controlled solidphase extraction. The preliminary applications of ceramic carbon materials in chromatography were also studied.

Preparation, characterization and quantized capacitance of 3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol monolayer protected gold nanoparticles

Monolayer protected gold nanoparticles (MPCs) are the focus of recent research for their stability and are deemed as the building blocks of bottom-up strategies. In this Letter, 3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol monolayer protected gold nanoparticles (MPD-MPCs) were synthesized and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The value of quantized double-layer capacitance (1.13 aF) of MPD-MPCs in aqueous media was obtained by differential pulse voltammograms.

3-Mercaptopropionic Acid Capped Gold Nanoclusters: Quantized Capacitance in Aqueous Media

3-Mercaptopropionic add monolayer protected gold nanoclusters (MPA-MPCs) were synthesized and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The exact value of quantized double-layer capacitance of MPCS in aqueous media was obtained by differential pulse voltammograms.

A temperature-dependent interaction of neutral red with calf thymus DNA

Neutral red (NR) is used as a probe to study the temperature and concentration dependent interaction of a cationic dye with nucleic acid. A temperature-dependent interaction of NR with calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) has been studied by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), UV-Visible absorption, circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence spectroscopy. The experimental results of increasing peak current, changes in the UV-Visible absorption and fluorescence spectra of NR and decreasing the induced circular dichroism (ICD) intensity show that (i) the binding mode of NR molecules is changed from intercalating into DNA base pairs to aggregating along the DNA double helix and (ii) the orientation of NR chromophore in DNA double helix is also changed with the temperature.

Effect of alkyl group length on the conductivity in the 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octakis(alkyl-thio)tetraazaporphyrins and redox properties of the metallooctakis(hexyl-thio)tetraazaporphyrins

A series of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octakis(alkyl-thio)tetraazaporphyrins (H(2)OATTAP) with different alkyl chain lengths have been synthesized. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry have been used to investigate the effect of the controlled lengths of the eight peripheral thioether tails on the redox behavior of the molecules. The electrochemical reduction of octakis(hexyl-thio)tetraazaporphyrins, MOHTTAP (where M = Cu, Ni), was studied in 1,2-dichloroethane at a platinum electrode. The Cu derivative was oxidized in one single-electron-transfer step to yield a pi-cation radical and reduced in three single-electron-transfer steps to yield a pi-anion radical, dianion and trianion, respectively. For the Ni derivative, electron transfer reactions involving both the central metal atom and the macrocyclic ring were observed. Electron transfer pathways are proposed based upon voltammetric and in situ spectroelectrochemical results.

Electrocatalytic oxidation of dopamine by ferrocene in lipid film cast on a glassy carbon electrode

The ferrocene-lipid film electrode was successfully prepared by means of casting the solution of ferrocene and lipid in chloroform onto a glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface. Ferrocene saved in the biological membrane gave a couple of quasi-reversible peaks of cyclic voltammogram. The electrode displays a preferential electrocatalytic oxidation of dopamine (DA). The effect of electroccatalytic oxidation of DA depends on the solution pH and the negative charge lipid is in favor of catalytic oxidation of DA. The characteristic was employed for separating the electrochemical responses of DA and ascorbic acid (AA). The electrode was assessed for the voltammetric differentiation of DA and AA. The measurement of DA can be achieved with differential pulse voltammetry in the, presence of high concentration of AA. The catalytic peak current was proportional to the concentration of DA in the range of 1 x 10(-4)-3 x 10(-3) mol/L.

Anodic voltammetric behavior of ethacridine at a glassy carbon electrode

The anodic voltammetric behavior of ethacridine (EAD) in the presence of various electrolytes was studied by using linear potential sweep voltammetry, differential-pulse voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode. In the medium of 0.1 mol/L NaOH solution, an oxidative peak of ethaeridine was obtained. The peak potential is at about 0.40 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The peak current is linearly increased with the concentration of ethaeridine over the range of 0.05 similar to 80 mg/L. The method has been used for the direct determination of ethacridine in injection. The relative standard deviation (n = 10) is 1.4% similar to 2.7%. The recoveries of ethacridine in urine samples are 89% similar to 95%. The mechanism of the electrode reaction was also discussed.

Study on adsorption and oxidation of calf thymus DNA at glassy carbon electrode

The oxidation and adsorption of the temperature-denatured DNA at GC electrode are studied by differential pulse voltammetry and in situ FTIR spectroelectrochemistry. The temperature-denatured DNA is adsorbed and formed a DNA multilayer at electrode surface. The temperature-denatured DNA showing partly reversible process was first observed based on the reduction peaks appearing at negative scans and the reversible spectral change. The oxidation product of the temperature-denatured DNA can not diffuse away from the electrode surface easily due to the impediment of the DNA multilayer, so it can be partly reduced.

Anodic voltammetric behavior of medecamycin at a glassy carbon electrode

The anodic voltammetric behavior of medecamycin (MD) in the presence of various electrolytes was studied by linearsweep voltammetry, differential-pulse voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode. In phosphate buffer solutions (pH = 9.4), MD is oxidized irreversibly. The peak potential is at about +0.75 V (vs.Ag/AgCl). The height of the peak is linearly increased with the concentration of MD over the range of 5 x 10(-5) similar to 1 x 10(-1) g/L. The method has been used for the direct determination of MD in tablets. The relative standard deviation (n = 10) is 1.8%. The recoveries of MD in urine samples are in the range of 95% similar to 115%.

Anodic voltammetric behavior of inosine on a glassy carbon electrode

The anodic voltammetric behavior of inosine (I) was investigated by linar-sweep voltammetry, differential-pulse voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode. In a medium of 0.1 mol/L N2HPO4, inosine showed a well defined anodic peak. The peak potential was about 1.42 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). A linear relationship held between the peak current and the concentration of inosine in the rang of 5 x 10(-4) similar to 8 x 10(-2) g/L. The peak potential decreased with the decrease of the acidity of the solution. The four anodic peaks of inosine with hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid were obtained. Their peak potentials were about at 1.42, 1.07, 0.72 and 0.26 Vt vs. Ag/AgCl). The method has been used for the direct determination of inosine in injections. Recoveries of inosine in urine samples were about 85%. Experimental result proved that the electrode reaction was diffusion-controlled and irreversible.