Renewable three-dimensional Prussian blue modified carbon ceramic electrode

Prussian blue (PB) supported on graphite powder was prepared by the chemical deposition technique and subsequently dispersed into methyltrimethoxysilane-derived gels to yield a conductive graphite organosilicate composite. The composite was used as the electrode material to fabricate a three-dimensional PB-modified electrode. PB 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. The chemically modified electrode can electrocatalyze the oxidation of hydrazine, 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. Hydrodynamic voltammetric experiments were performed to characterize the electrode as an amperometric sensor for the determination of hydrazine. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

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.

Detection of anti-human serum albumin antibody using surface plasmon resonance biosensor

The biosensor based on surface plasmon resonance(SPR) technology is a very useful tool to study the interaction between biomolecles. The main advantages of this technique is to "visualize" macromolecular interactions directly in real time, and in a label-free mode rather than indirect methods like enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). We immobilize human serum albumin (HSA) to the carboxymethyldextran-modified sensor chip surface covalently to detect the activity of anti-HSA in serum, and regenerate the surface with .1 mol/L phosphoric acid. The results show that SPR biosensor can detect the activity of anti-HSA in real-time quickly and the sensor chip can be used over 100 cycles.

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.

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.

Controlled nucleation and growth of surface-confined gold nanoparticles on a (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane-modified class slide: A strategy for SPR substrates

The thickness of the gold film and its morphology, including the surface roughness, are very important for getting a good, reproducible response in the SPR technique. Here, we report a novel alternative approach for preparing SPR-active substrates that is completely solution-based. Our strategy is based on self-assembly of the gold colloid monolayer on a (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane-modified glass slide, followed by electroless gold plating. Using this method, the thickness of films can be easily controlled at the nanometer scale by setting the plating time in the same conditions. Surface roughness and morphology of gold films can be modified by both tuning the size of gold nanoparticles and agitation during the plating. Surface evolution of the Au film was followed in real time by UV-vis spectroscopy and in situ SPRS. To assess the surface roughness and electrochemical stability of the Au films, atomic force microscopy and cyclic voltammetry were used. In addition, the stability of the gold adhesion is demonstrated by three methods. The as-prepared Au films on substrates are reproducible and stable, which allows them to be used as electrodes for electrochemical experiments and as platforms for studying SAMs.

Electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly of polycation and DNA multilayer films by real-time surface plasmon resonance technique

The assembly of alternating DNA and positively charged poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (PDDA) multilayer films by electrostatic layer-by-layer adsorption has been studied. Real time surface plasmon resonance (BIAcore) technique was used to characterize and monitor the formation of multilayer films in solution in real time continuously. The results indicate that the uniform multilayer can be obtained on the poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) coated substrate surface. The kinetics of the adsorption of DNA on PDDA surface was also studied by real-time BIAcore technique, and the observed rate constant was calculated using a Langmuir model (k(obs) = (1.28 +/- 0.08) x 10(-2) s(-1)).

Sol-gel-derived graphite organosilicate composite electrodes bulk-modified with Keggin-type alpha-germanomolybdic acid

A novel inorganic-organic hybrid material incorporating graphite powder and Keggin-type alpha -germanomolybdic acid (GeMo12) in methyltrimethoxysilane-based gels has been produced by the sol-gel technique and used to fabricate a chemically bulk-modified electrode. GeMo12 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. The GeMo12-modified graphite organosilicate composite electrode was characterized by cyclic and square-wave voltammetry. The modified electrode shows a high electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of bromate, nitrite and hydrogen peroxide in acidic aqueous solution. In addition, the chemically-modified electrode has some distinct advantages over the traditional polyoxometalate-modified electrodes, such as long-term stability and especially repeatability of surface-renewal by simple mechanical polishing.

Potential-induced transformation for surfactant aggregates on a metal surface

Surfactant adsorption on metal surfaces has been used to limit the activity of the electrode surface and to stabilize colloidal clusters and nanoparticles in solution, but the adsorption and relative potential-induced structure change of the surfactant were not known. Here, the adsorption of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on a Au(111) surface under potential control was investigated by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The STM images showed that the morphology of SDS on Au(111) was changed from a hemi-cylindrical micellar monolayer to a compact and uniform bilayer through control of the potential. The transition between the hemimicellar monolayer and the compact bilayer is not reversed after a period of time. The model of potential-induced transformation for SDS aggregates on Au(111) was established. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Surface-renewable cobalt(II) hexacyanoferrate-modified graphite organosilicate electrode and its electrocatalytic oxidation of thiosulfate

Cobalt(II) hexacyanoferrate (CoHCF) was deposited on graphite powder by an in situ chemical deposition procedure and then dispersed into methyltrimethoxysilane-derived gels to prepare a surface-renewable CoHCF-modified electrode. The electrochemical behavior of the modified electrode in different supporting electrolyte solutions was characterized by cyclic voltammetry. In addition, square-wave voltammetry was employed to investigate the pNa-dependent electrochemical behavior of the electrode. The CoHCF-modified electrode showed a high electrocatalytic activity toward thiosulfate oxidation and could thus be used as an amperometric thiosulfate sensor.

Photoinduced electrochemical reduction of nitrite at an electrochemically roughened silver surface

Photoelectrochemical reduction of nitrite and nitrate was studied on the surface of an electrochemically roughened silver electrode. The dependence of the photocurrent on photon energy, applied potential, and concentration of nitrite was determined. It was concluded that the photoelectrochemical reduction proceeds via a photoemission process followed by the capture of hydrated electrons by electron accepters. The excitation of plasmon resonances in nanosize metal structures produced during the roughening procedure resulted in the enhancement of the photoemission process. Ammonia was detected as one of the final products in this reaction. Mechanisms for the photoelectrochemical reduction of nitrite and nitrate are proposed.

WATER-SOLUBLE AND AMPHIPHILIC POLYMERS .6. A STUDY ON THE SURFACE-COMPOSITION OF CAST FILMS OF PST/PMAA AND PEO-PST-PEO BLOCK POLYMERS BY XPS

Thin films of PSt/PMAA and PEO-PSt-PEO block polymers were deposited on a polystyrene substrate by solution adsorption (with or without solvent treatment), and the film surfaces were characterized by means of XPS. Direct solvent - casting of PEO-PSt-PEO from benzene solutions resulted in PSt-rich surfaces, whereas PMAA richer surfaces were obtained for PSt/PMAA films cast from DMF solutions. Moreover, solvent treatment after casting had profound effect on the film surface composition. Treatment with water markedly increased the surface concentration of polar PEO segments. In the case of PSt-PMAA block polymers, the PSt content on the surface increased in the order of water < ethanol < cyclohexane < petroleum ether, the last-named giving films with almost pure PSt surface. It is well worth noticing that the bulk composition had little to do with the surface composition for both PSt/PMAA and PEO-PSt-PEO block polymers within the composition range investigated when subsequent solvent treatment was applied.