Electrochemical study of isopoly- and heteropoly-oxometallates film modified microelectrodes .6. Preparation and redox properties of 12-molybdophosphoric acid and 12-molybdosilicic acid modified carbon fiber microelectrodes

The redox behaviours of 12-molybdophosphoric acid (12-MPA) and 12-molybdosilicic acid (12-MSA) in aqueous acid media are characterized at the carbon fiber (CF) microelectrode. The preparation of CF microelectrode modified with 12-MPA or 12-MSA monolayer and the oxidation-reduction properties of the modified electrode in aqueous acid media or 50% (v/v) water-organic media containing some inorganic acids are studied by cyclic voltammetry. 12-MPA or 12-MSA monolayer modified CF microelectrode with high stability and redox reversibility in aqueous acidic media can be prepared by simple dip coating. The cyclic voltammograms of 12-MPA and 12-MSA and their modified CF microelectrodes in aqueous acid solution exhibit three two-electron reversible waves with the same half-wave potentials, which defines that the species adsorbed on the CF electrode surface are 12-MPA and 12-MSA themselves. The acidity of electrolyte solution, the organic solvents in the electrolyte solution, and the scanning potential range strongly influence on the redox behaviours and stability of 12-MPA or 12-MSA monolayer modified electrodes. On the other hand, the catalytic effects of the 12-MPA and 12-MSA and chlorate anions in aqueous acidic solution on the electrode reaction processes of 12-MPA or 12-MSA are described.

DETERMINATION OF AMINOPYRINE AND ITS METABOLITE BY CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION

An electrochemical pretreatment regime for a cylindrical carbon fibre microelectrode was optimized for the determination of aminopyrine (AM) and its metabolite 4-aminoantipyrine (AAN) by capillary electrophoresis (CE)-electrochemical detection (ED). Under optimized conditions, a response of high sensitivity and stability was obtained for AM and AAN at a detection voltage as low as 0.9 V following CE-ED, by which AM and AAN were separated satisfactorily. The calibration graph was linear over three orders of magnitude and the limits of detection for AM and AAN were in the femtomole range.

STUDY ON ELECTROCATALYTIC OXIDATION OF NADH BY FERROCENE DERIVATIVES AND DETERMINATION OF CATALYTIC RATE-CONSTANT AT MICRODISK ELECTRODE

The electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH by ferrocene derivatives and the influence of complexation with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) were investigated at a microdisk electrode in a buffer solution. The cyclic voltammetric behavior of the ferrocene derivatives on the microdisk electrode was used to determine the electron-transfer rate constant from NADH to the ferricinium species. The heterogeneous rate constants and the diffusion coefficient of ferrocene derivatives were determined with the microdisk electrode. The effect of temperature and pH on the electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH were assessed.

ELECTROCATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF MIXED-VALENCE MOLYBDENUM OXIDE THIN-FILM MODIFIED MICROELECTRODES

A compact blue conducting mixed-valence Mo (VI,V) oxide film was grown on the surface of a carbon fibre (CF) microelectrode by cycling the potential between +0.20 and similar to 0.70 V SCE in freshly prepared Na2MoO4 solution in H2SO4 (pH 2). The thicknes

ELECTROCHEMICAL PREPARATION OF MICROELECTRODES MODIFIED WITH NONSTOICHIOMETRIC MIXED-VALENT MOLYBDENUM OXIDES

A blue, conductive, compact, mixed-valent Mo(VI, V) oxide film was grown on carbon fiber (CF) microelectrode surface by cycling the potential between +0.20 and -0.70 V vs. SCE in a fresh prepared Na2MoO4 solution (pH = 2, H2SO4). The thickness of the oxid

SOLID-STATE VOLTAMMETRY OF ELECTROACTIVE SOLUTES IN POLYMER SOLVENTS (PEO) AT ULTRAMICROELECTRODES

This paper describes the electrochemical oxidation and reduction of electroactive solutes which are dissolved in and diffusing through the polymer electrolyte solvent, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). The characteristics of electrochemical reactions in polymeric solutions are discussed, including how rigid solvent environments affect mass transport rates, and the transport phenomenon of electroactive species in PEO with bathing gases is explained by using the voltammetric theory of ultramicroelectrodes. The possibility that the microelectrode coated with PEO film can be used as a gas sensor has been discussed.

ELECTROCHEMICAL STUDY OF ISOPOLY-OXOMETALLATES AND HETEROPOLY-OXOMETALLATES FILM MODIFIED MICROELECTRODES .3. FURTHER STUDY OF ELECTRODE PROCESS OF ISOPOLYMOLYBDIC ANION DOPED IN POLYANILINE FILM

The isopolymolybdic anion-polyaniline film modified carbon fiber (CF) microelectrode with high stability and electroactivity in aqueous acid solution has been successfully prepared by cycling the potential between -0.15 V and +0.85 V vs. sce at 100 mV s-1 or applying constant potential (+0.85 V) for electropolymerization in a 0.5 M H2SO4 solution containing 5.0 x 10(-2) M aniline and 5.0 x 10(-3) M H4Mo8O26. The electrochemical behaviour of the isopolymolybdic anion entrapped in the polyaniline film is strongly influenced by the sweep-potential range besides the acidity of electrolyte solution. In some acidic electrolyte solution (eg 0.5 M H2SO4), the change of the sweep-potential range causes the structure alternation of the isopolymolybdic anion and resulting in a new electrode process. The cyclic voltammogram of Mo8O264- in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution exhibits three two-electron reversible waves between +0.70 and -0.20 V. However, when the potential sweeps to the lower-limit of -0.3 V, where the fourth four-electron cathodic wave appears, the redoxidation process of the reduction product of Mo8O264- becomes relatively complicated. The 10-electron reduction product seems to change into other isopolyanion (this unknown structure isopolyanions are simply called [Mo-O]), which can be reoxidized to Mo8O264- by five successive two-electron oxidation steps from -0.30 to +0.70 V. However, when the lower-limit of the cycling potential is maintained at -0.30 V and the upper-limit reduces to +0.40 V from +0.70 V, the [Mo-O] in the film exhibits four two-electron reversible waves. We have presented a novel explanation about its electrode reaction mechanism on the basis of our experimental results.

APPLICATION OF ULTRAMICROELECTRODES IN STUDIES OF HOMOGENEOUS CATALYTIC REACTIONS .3. THE CONDITION FOR QUASI-1ST AND 2ND-ORDER HOMOGENEOUS CATALYTIC REACTIONS AT ULTRAMICRODISK ELECTRODES IN THE STEADY-STATE

The conditions for quasi-first and second order homogeneous catalytic reactions and their variation with each other at an ultramicrodisk electrode in the steady state are discussed in this paper. The order of reaction can be controlled by changing the dimension of the ultramicroelectrode: the second order reaction can be changed to quasi-first by decreasing the dimension of the ultramicroelectrode. An example of this is given. The main factor effect on the reaction order is the dimension of the ultramicroelectrode. The K4Fe(CN)6-aminopyrine system is selected to confirm the theory, the experiments showing that the system is a second order reaction at a 432 mum microelectrode, and a quasi-first order reaction at a 19 mum ultramicroelectrode. The kinetic constant of the system can be determined by applying the previous theory of homogeneous catalytic reaction.

ELECTROCHEMICAL STUDY OF ISOPOLY AND HETEROPOLY OXOMETALLATE FILM MODIFIED MICROELECTRODES .5. PREPARATION AND ELECTROCHEMICAL-BEHAVIOR OF A 2/18-MOLYBDODIPHOSPHATE ANION MONOLAYER MODIFIED ELECTRODE

In this paper a carbon fibre (CF) microelectrode modified with the 2:18-molybdodiphosphate anion by simple adsorption is described and its electrochemical behaviour is reported. The 2:18-molybdodiphosphate anion (alpha-P2Mo18O626-), which is a Dawson structure, undergoes five successive multielectron reductions in acidic solution. The first three redox waves correspond to the two-electron process, and the last two waves are four-electron and six-electron processes respectively. On the basis of the experimental results it is shown that the electrode process of alpha-P2Mo18O626- on the CF electrode in acidic solution is simultaneously controlled by the diffusion and adsorption of alpha-P2Mo18O626- anions. When the concentration of the alpha-P2Mo18O626- in the solution is reduced, the electrode process mainly exhibits non-diffusion-controlled behaviour, and the diffusion-limited process takes over as the concentration of alpha-P2Mo18O626- becomes higher. The CF electrode modified with a thin film of alpha-P2Mo18O626- exhibits very good stability and redox behaviour in aqueous acidic solution. The alpha-P2Mo18O626- is reduced to heteropoly blue, with an accompanying protonation process. The addition of more than six electrons to the alpha-P2Mo18O626- anion in an aqueous solution does not result in its decomposition. The result obtained is not the same as that reported previously.

ELECTROCHEMICAL STUDY OF ISOPOLY-OXOMETALLATE AND HETEROPOLY-OXOMETALLATE FILM MODIFIED MICROELECTRODES .2. ELECTROCHEMICAL-BEHAVIOR OF ISOPOLYMOLYBDIC ACID MONOLAYER MODIFIED CARBON-FIBER MICROELECTRODES

In this paper the electrochemical properties of isopolymolybdic anion thin film modified carbon fibre (CF) microelectrode prepared by simple dip coating have been described. The modified electrode shows three couples of surface redox waves between + 0.70 and - 0.1 V vs. sce in 2 M H2SO4 solution with good stability and reversibility. The pH of solution has a marked effect on the electrochemical behaviour and stability of the film, the stronger the acidity of electrolyte solution is, the better the stability and reversibility of isopolymolybdic anion film CF microelectrode will be. The scanning potential range strongly influences on the electrochemical behaviour of the film. The isopolymolybdic anion film prepared by the dip coating resulting a monolayer with estimated surface concentration (F) 2.8 x 10(-11) mol cm-2. From the half-peak widths and peak areas of the surface redox waves of the film electrode, the first three surface waves are corresponding to two-electron processes. The electron energy spectra show the products by six electrons reduction are a mixture of Mo(VI) and Mo(V) species. The electrochemical reaction of the isopolymolybdic anion monolayer can be expressed as Mo8O264- + mH+ + 2ne half arrow right over half arrow left [HmMo8-2n(VI)Mo2n(V)O26](4,2n-m)-n = 1, 2, 3; m = 2, 5, 7.

ELECTROCATALYTIC OXIDATION OF ASCORBIC-ACID AT A PRUSSIAN BLUE FILM MODIFIED MICRODISK ELECTRODE

The preparation and the behaviour of a Prussian Blue (PB) film on a platinum microdisk electrode has been described. Electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid has occurred at the PB film modified microelectrode. This shows a typical example of a modified microelectrode in electrocatalysis following our previous theoretical studies (J. Electroanal. Chem., 309 (1991) 103) and the related catalytic reaction rate constant was determined.

Determination of Rate Constants of Catalytic Reaction by Spectroelectrochemistry with Microelectrodes

The at constants of catalytic reaction of ferrocyanide ascorbic acid and ferro cyanide histidine system were determined by transmitted spectroelectrochemistry using a group of cyclindrical microelectrodes, It is the first time to find that the reaction can still be considered as the pseudo first order reaction when tilt concentration of ascorbic acid or histidine is close to and even slightly lower than the concentration of ferrocyanide. The determined rate constants are in agreement with the reported values, A reasonable explanation was given,

纳电子器件制备的单根碳纳米管精确装配与电连接研究

目前,利用单根碳纳米管进行纳电子器件的研制成为纳电子学界研究的前沿与热点,但在纳电子器件研制过程中,如何实现单根碳纳米管与微电极的精确装配与电连接成为关键技术难题之一。为探索实现此关键技术的新方法,本文尝试将介电电泳与具有实时力/视觉反馈的原子力显微镜操作方法相结合,从而结合粗、精两级操作方式,来实现单根碳纳米管的精确装配与电连接。单根多壁碳纳米管的精确装配与电特性测试实验验证了该方法的有效性,从而为装配研制基于单根纳米管/线的纳电子器件提供了一种新颖可行的方法。

Investigation of micro-devices for neurobiological applications

The aim of this project is to integrate neuronal cell culture with commercial or in-house built micro-electrode arrays and MEMS devices. The resulting device is intended to support neuronal cell culture on its surface, expose specific portions of a neuronal population to different environments using microfluidic gradients and stimulate/record neuronal electrical activity using micro-electrode arrays. Additionally, through integration of chemical surface patterning, such device can be used to build neuronal cell networks of specific size, conformation and composition. The design of this device takes inspiration from the nervous system because its development and regeneration are heavily influenced by surface chemistry and fluidic gradients. Hence, this device is intended to be a step forward in neuroscience research because it utilizes similar concepts to those found in nature. The large part of this research revolved around solving technical issues associated with integration of biology, surface chemistry, electrophysiology and microfluidics. Commercially available microelectrode arrays (MEAs) are mechanically and chemically brittle making them unsuitable for certain surface modification and micro-fluidic integration techniques described in the literature. In order to successfully integrate all the aspects into one device, some techniques were heavily modified to ensure that their effects on MEA were minimal. In terms of experimental work, this thesis consists of 3 parts. The first part dealt with characterization and optimization of surface patterning and micro-fluidic perfusion. Through extensive image analysis, the optimal conditions required for micro-contact printing and micro-fluidic perfusion were determined. The second part used a number of optimized techniques and successfully applied these to culturing patterned neural cells on a range of substrates including: Pyrex, cyclo-olefin and SiN coated Pyrex. The second part also described culturing neurons on MEAs and recording electrophysiological activity. The third part of the thesis described integration of MEAs with patterned neuronal culture and microfluidic devices. Although integration of all methodologies proved difficult, a large amount of data relating to biocompatibility, neuronal patterning, electrophysiology and integration was collected. Original solutions were successfully applied to solve a number of issues relating to consistency of micro printing and microfluidic integration leading to successful integration of techniques and device components.

Electrochemical biosensor based on microfabricated electrode arrays for life sciences applications

In developing a biosensor, the utmost important aspects that need to be emphasized are the specificity and selectivity of the transducer. These two vital prerequisites are of paramount in ensuring a robust and reliable biosensor. Improvements in electrochemical sensors can be achieved by using microelectrodes and to modify the electrode surface (using chemical or biological recognition layers to improve the sensitivity and selectivity). The fabrication and characterisations of silicon-based and glass-based gold microelectrode arrays with various geometries (band and disc) and dimension (ranging from 10 μm-100 nm) were reported. It was found that silicon-based transducers of 10 μm gold microelectrode array exhibited the most stable and reproducible electrochemical measurements hence this dimension was selected for further study. Chemical electrodeposition on both 10 μm microband and microdisc were found viable by electro-assisted self-assembled sol-gel silica film and nanoporous-gold electrodeposition respectively. The fabrication and characterisations of on-chip electrochemical cell was also reported with a fixed diameter/width dimension and interspacing variation. With this regard, the 10 μm microelectrode array with interspacing distance of 100 μm exhibited the best electrochemical response. Surface functionalisations on single chip of planar gold macroelectrodes were also studied for the immobilisation of histidine-tagged protein and antibody. Imaging techniques such as atomic force microscopy, fluorescent microscopy or scanning electron microscope were employed to complement the electrochemical characterisations. The long-chain thiol of self-assembled monolayer with NTA-metal ligand coordination was selected for the histidine-tagged protein while silanisation technique was selected for the antibody immobilisation. The final part of the thesis described the development of a T-2 labelless immunosensor using impedimetric approach. Good antibody calibration curve was obtained for both 10 μm microband and 10 μm microdisc array. For the establishment of the T-2/HT-2 toxin calibration curve, it was found that larger microdisc array dimension was required to produce better calibration curve. The calibration curves established in buffer solution show that the microelectrode arrays were sensitive and able to detect levels of T-2/HT-2 toxin as low as 25 ppb (25 μg kg-1) with a limit of quantitation of 4.89 ppb for a 10 μm microband array and 1.53 ppb for the 40 μm microdisc array.