Study of the underlying electrochemistry of polycrystalline gold electrodes in aqueous solution and electrocatalysis by large amplitude Fourier transformed alternating current voltammetry

Polycrystalline gold electrodes of the kind that are routinely used in analysis and catalysis in aqueous media are often regarded as exhibiting relatively simple double-layer charging/discharging and monolayer oxide formation/ removal in the positive potential region. Application of the large amplitude Fourier transformed alternating current (FT-ac) voltammetric technique that allows the faradaic current contribution of fast electron-transfer processes to be emphasized in the higher harmonic components has revealed the presence of well-defined faradaic (premonolayer oxidation) processes at positive potentials in the double-layer region in acidic and basic media which are enhanced by electrochemical activation. These underlying quasi-reversible interfacial electron-transfer processes may mediate the course of electrocatalytic oxidation reactions of hydrazine, ethylene glycol, and glucose on gold electrodes in aqueous media. The observed responses support key assumptions associated with the incipient hydrous oxide adatom mediator (IHOAM) model of electrocatalysis.

Direct electrochemical formation of nanostructured amorphous Co(OH)2 on gold electrodes with enhanced activity for the oxygen evolution reaction.

The oxides of cobalt have recently been shown to be highly effective electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) under alkaline conditions. In general species such as Co3O4 and CoOOH have been investigated that often require an elevated temperature step during their synthesis to create crystalline materials. In this work we investigate the rapid and direct electrochemical formation of amorphous nanostructured Co(OH)2 on gold electrodes under room temperture conditions which is a highly active precursor for the OER. During the OER some conversion to crystalline Co3O4 occurs at the surface, but the bulk of the material remains amorphous. It is found that the underlying gold electrode is crucial to the materials enhanced performance and provides higher current density than can be achieved using carbon, palladium or copper support electrodes. This catalyst exhibits excellent activity with a current density of 10 mA cm-2 at an overpotential of 360 mV with a high turnover frequency of 2.1 s-1 in 1 M NaOH. A Tafel slope of 56 mV dec-1 at low overpotentials and a slope of 122 mV dec-1 at high overpotentials is consistent with the dual barrier model for the electrocatalytic evolution of oxygen. Significantly, the catalyst maintains excellent activity for up to 24 hr of continuous operation and this approach offers a facile way to create a highly effective and stable material.

Fabrication and electrochemical behaviors of multilayers composed of heteropholyanions and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) on 4-aminothiophenol modified gold electrodes

Multilayer films composed of heteropolyanions (HPAS, SiMo11 VO405-) and cationic polymer poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) on 4-aminothiophenol self-assembled-monolayer were fabricated by electrochemical growth. Growth processes of the composite films were characterized by cyclic voltammetry. The results prove the third redox peak of Mo increases more rapidly, otherwise the other Mo redox peaks increase very slowly when the number of layers of heteropolyanions is greater. The peak potentials of composite films shift linearly to negative position with higher pH, which implies that protons are involved in the redox processes of HPA. The investigation of electrocatalytic behaviors of composite films shows a good catalytic activity for the reductions of HNO2 and BrO3-. Catalytic currents increase with increasing number of layers of heteropolyanions, moreover, the catalytic currents have a good linear relationship with the concentrations of BrO3-.

Rapid electron propagation through molecular wire monolayers sandwiched between two gold electrodes

Conjugated bisthioester 1 was synthesized applying Sonogashira coupling reactions. Using self-assembly in combination with nanoparticles deposition techniques, we developed a novel method to fabricate a "gold electrode-molecular wire monolayers-gold nanoparticles" sandwich-like structure. Rapid electron propagation through this sandwich-like structure was observed by cyclic voltammetry and ac impedance measurements.

Electrochemical growth and characterization of polyoxometalate-containing monolayers and multilayers on alkanethiol monolayers self-assembled on gold electrodes

A general strategy has been developed for fabrication of ultrathin monolayer and multilayer composite films composed of nearly all kinds of polyoxometalates (POMs), including isopolyanions (IPAs), and heteropolyanions (HPAs). It involves stepwise adsorption between the anionic POMs and a cationic polymer on alkanethiol (cysteamine and 3-mercaptopropionic acid) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) based on electrostatic interaction. Here a Keggin-type HPA SiMo11VO405- was chosen as a main representative to elucidate, in detail, the fabrication and characterization of the as-prepared composite films. A novel electrochemical growth method we developed for film formation involves cyclic potential sweeps over a suitable potential range in modifier solutions. It was comparatively studied with a commonly used method of immersion growth, i.e., alternately dipping a substrate into modifier solutions. Growth processes and structural characteristics of the composite films are characterized in detail by cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis spectroscopy (UV-vis), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), micro-Fourier transform infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (FTIR-RA), and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). The electrochemical growth is proven to be more advantageous than the immersion growth. The composite films exhibit well-defined surface waves characteristic of the HPAs' redox reactions. In addition, the composite films by the electrochemical growth show a uniform structure and an excellent stability. Ion motions accompanying the redox processes of SiMo11VO405- in multilayer films are examined by in situ time-resolved EQCM and some results are first reported. The strategy used here has been successfully popularized to IPAs as well as other HPAs no matter what structure and composition they have.

Electrochemical studies of cytochrome c disulfide at gold electrodes

The electrochemistry of disulfide in cytochrome c on gold electrodes was reported. The observed electrochemical response was used to explain why the electrochemical reaction of cytochrome c is irreversible at gold electrodes. Disulfide bonds in cytochrome c were strongly adsorbed onto the surface of gold electrodes and caused slow rate of electron transfer of the heme group. It was found that the presence of disulfides in cytochrome c was responsible for the lack of electrochemical response of the heme group on a gold electrode. The mechanisms for this effect were studied using electrochemistry and photoelectron spectroscopy. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study of the electrochemical behavior of riboflavin at gold electrodes

The electrochemical and adsorption behaviors of riboflavin (RF) at gold electrodes has ken studied by using an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). Useful information is obtained not only about electrochemical behavior but also about mass changes on the electrode surface. The electrochemical properties and frequency shifts were investigated in RF solutions at different pH values, concentrations and scan rates. Reversible voltammograms were observed for pH less than or equal to 9.71. There was no electrochemical reaction for pH > 9.71. The maximum current response was obtained at about pH 8. The current response was proportional to the square root of scan rates when the concentration of RF was lower than 1.0 x 10(-4) mol L-1 (pH 6.92). On the contrary, at concentrations higher than 1.0 x 10(-4) mol L-1 (pH 6.92), it was proportional to the scan rates.

Self-assembly of the pre-formed inclusion complexes between cyclodextrins and alkanethiols on gold electrodes

A new kind of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) formed in aqueous solution through the pre-formed inclusion complexes (abbreviated CD . C-n) between alpha-, beta-cyclodextrins (CDs) and alkanethiols (CH3(CH2)(n-1)SH, n = 10, 14 and 18) was prepared successfully on gold electrodes. High-resolution H-1 NMR was used to confirm the formation of CD . C-n. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were used to characterize the resulting SAMs (denoted as M-CD . Cn). It was found that M-CD . Cn were more stable against repeated potential cycling in 0.5 M H2SO4 than SAMs of CH3(CH2)(n-1)SH (denoted as M-Cn), with a relative sequence of Mbeta-CD . Cn > Malpha-CD . Cn > M-Cn. In addition, an order of blocking the electron transfer between gold electrodes and redox couples (both Fe(CN)(6)(3-) and Ru(NH3)(6)(3+)) in solution, M-CD . C10 > M-CD . C14 > M-CD . C18, was observed. A plausible explanation is provided to elucidate some of the observations. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.

Formation of self-assembled monolayers on gold electrodes with inclusion complexes of cyclodextrins and viologens

A novel kind of electroactive self-assembled monolayer (SAM) has been successfully prepared through the following procedure: (1) formation of inclusion complexes (denoted as CD/C8VC10SH) between N-(n-octyl)-N'-(10-mercaptodecyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium dibromide (C8VC10SH) and alpha-, beta-cyclodextrin (CD) under a mild condition; (2) spontaneous formation of SAM of CD/C8VC10SH on gold electrodes at room temperature. High-resolution H-1-NMR spectrum was used to confirm the formation of CD/C8VC10SH. Cyclic voltammetry was used to characterize the redox behavior of the resulting monolayers and chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to characterize their electron transfer kinetics. It was found that the redox sites in SAM of CD/C8VC10SH are effectively diluted, with a larger electron transfer rate constant than that of SAM of C8VC10SH.

Electrochemical Study of the Self-exchange between Viologen-thiol Self assembled Monolayers and Alkanethiol Gold Electrodes

The preparation and cyclic voltammetric behaviors of self assembled monolayers (SAMs) containing electroactive viologen group have been investigated. Treatment of this viologen SAM with solutions of alkanethiols remits in replacing the electroactive third, shifting negatively its formal potentials and decreasing its heterogeneous elixtron transfer constants along with the immersion time. The aim of the work is to understand the exchange regularity of the mixed SANK on gold electrode surface.

Self-assembled monolayers of thiols on gold electrodes for bioelectrochemistry and biosensors

Monolayers of biological compounds including redox proteins and enzymes, and phospholipids have been immobilized on a gold electrode surface through self-assembling. These proteins and enzymes, such as cytochrome c, cytochrome c oxidase and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), immobilized covalently to the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 3-mercaptopropionic acid on a gold electrode, communicate directly electrons with the electrode surface without mediators and keep their physiological activities. The electron transfer of HRP with the gold electrode can also be mediated by the alkanethiol SAMs with electroactive group viologens on the gold electrode surface. All these direct electrochemistries of proteins and enzymes might offer an opportunity to build a third generation of biosensors without mediators for analytes, such as H2O2, glucose and cholesterol. Monensin and valinomycin have been incorporated into the bilayers on the gold electrode consisting of the SAMs of alkanethiol and a lipid monolayer, which have high selectivity for monovalent ions, and the resulting Na+ or K+ sensor has a wide linear range and high stability. These self-assembly systems provide a good mimetic model for studying the physiological function of a membrane and its associated enzyme. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.

Direct electron transfer to cytochrome c oxidase in self-assembled monolayers on gold electrodes

The monolayer of cytochrome c oxidase maintaining physiological activity and attached covalently to the self-assembled monolayers of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) on a gold electrode was obtained. The results of cyclic voltammetry show that direct electron transfer between cytochrome c oxidase and the electrode surface is a fast and diffusionless process. MPA has a dual role as both electrode modifier and the bridging molecule which: keeps cytochrome c oxidase at an appropriate orientation without denaturation and enables direct electron transfer between the protein and the modified electrode. Immobilized cytochrome c oxidase exhibits biphasic phenomena between the concentration of the electrolyte and the normal potentials; meanwhile its electrochemical behavior is also influenced by the buffer components. The quasi-reversible electron transfer process of cytochrome c oxidase with formal potential 385 mV vs. SHE in 5mM phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.4) corresponds to the redox reaction of cyt a(3) in cytochrome c oxidase, and the heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant obtained is 1.56 s(-1). By cyclic voltammetry measurements, it was observed that oxidation and reduction of cytochrome c in solution were catalyzed by the immobilized cytochrome c oxidase. This cytochrome c oxidase/MPA/Au system provides a good mimetic model to study the physiological functions of membrane-associated enzymes and hopefully to build a third-generation biosensor without using a mediator.

The direct electrochemistry of cytochrome c at the nanometer-sized rare earth element oxide particle-modified gold electrodes

The direct electrochemistry of cytochrome c was studied at nanometer-sized rare earth element dioxide particle-modified gold electrodes. It was demonstrated that rare earth element oxides can accelerate the electrochemical reaction of cytochrome c and the reversibility of the electrochemical reaction of cytochrome c was related to the size of rare earth element oxide particles.