Electrodes modified by electrodeposition of CoTAA complexes as selective oxygen cathodes in a direct methanol fuel cell

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at cobalt tetraazaanulene (CoTAA) modified electrodes was investigated. As a first approach, modified electrodes were prepared by electrodeposition of CoTAA on glassy carbon (GC). The modification of the GC surface was monitored by u.v.–vis. differential reflectance spectroscopy (UVDRS). The recorded spectra (i.e., absorbance as a function of wavelength and time) showed that the electrodeposition of CoTAA at 0.8 V vs Ag|AgCl, that is, at a potential where the TAA ligand is oxidized to TAA⁺, seems to produce a thin polymer film. Starting from these preliminary results, porous rotating disc electrodes (RDEs) were prepared by electrodeposition of CoTAA (0.8 V vs Ag|AgCl, 1 min) on graphite powder embedded in a recast Nafion^® film. The use of a porous RDE allowed comparison of the activity and selectivity of Pt nanoparticles and CoTAA for the ORR under experimental conditions close to those of a fuel cell cathode, that is, at the catalyst|Nafion^® interface. The activity towards the ORR of a porous electrode modified by electrodeposition of CoTAA is not affected when methanol is present in the electrolyte phase, whereas a noticeable decrease in the activity of Pt-based oxygen cathodes was observed under the same conditions. Half-cell life tests showed that CoTAA-modified electrodes and Pt-based electrodes have a comparable stability over a period of 90 min.     

Poly-o-phenylenediamine as redox mediator for laccase

Electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen reduction of fungal laccase entrapped in poly-o-phenylenediamine (POPDA) matrix on glassy carbon electrodes was studied. Cyclic voltammetry and amperometric responses to dissolved oxygen were investigated in pH range from 2 to 6. POPDA reveals a unique ability to serve as a redox mediator for laccase and immobilizing matrix at the same time. The entrapped enzyme efficiently catalyzes reduction of molecular oxygen without any additional mediators. The electrocatalytic current reaches 0.1 mA/cm⁻² per 1 μg of immobilized enzyme on cyclic voltammograms recorded at 1 mV/s in a not stirred electrolyte. Current density values are comparable with those revealed by dissolved laccase (60 μg/ml) mediated by hydroquinone and greatly higher than by the mediator less laccase/glassy carbon system. The potential of oxygen reduction is determined by the polymer redox couple. Consequently, the onset of the oxygen reduction shifts from −0.15 V versus Ag/AgCl in pH 6 to +0.05 V versus Ag/AgCl in pH 2. The laccase-POPDA layers immersed in the deaerated solution show fast amperometric responses to addition of the oxygen containing solution. The observed current values depend linearly on the oxygen concentration. Factors affecting the electrocatalytic activity of the laccase-POPDA system, including the layer thickness and the pH value, are studied. The electrodeposited laccase-POPDA films are characterized by infrared spectra. The results prove that the enzyme secondary structure remains unchanged during the entrapment procedure. POPDA matrix structure consists of the phenazine-type polymer according to infrared spectra.     

Electrochemical chiral recognition by microparticle coatings of Pd complexes with bridging cyclometalated phosphines

The palladium(II) dinuclear complex with bridging cyclometalated phosphines, {Pd₂[μ-(C₆H₄)PPh₂]₂(μ-O₂CCH₃)₂} (Pd₂L₂), having a paddlewheel structure, is reversibly oxidized in CH₂Cl₂ to a dinuclear palladium(III) analogue via two successive one-electron steps. Solid state voltammetry of Pd₂L₂ in contact with aqueous electrolytes produce as one-electron oxidation with two competing mechanisms involving anion intercalation/anion binding between/to metal centres, chloride ions acting as inhibitors for the first pathway. R- and S-Pd₂L₂ produces a significant stereoselective electrocatalytic activity with respect to the oxidation of l- and d-glutamic acid in alkaline media.     

Pd纳米盘的光热辅助合成及其对乙醇的电催化氧化

以氯化钯(Pd Cl2)为金属前驱体,乙醇为还原剂,十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)为稳定剂和导向剂,利用普通市售白炽灯产生的光热作用,辅助合成Pd纳米盘材料。用XRD、TEM、选区电子衍射(SAED)和UV等技术对合成产物进行表征,考察了CTAB用量对纳米Pd微观形貌和尺寸的影响,并通过循环伏安法研究了纳米Pd修饰玻碳电极对乙醇的电催化氧化活性。结果表明,通过改变Pd Cl2和CTAB的摩尔比,可以调控纳米Pd的微观形貌和尺寸;当Pd Cl2与CTAB的摩尔比为1:80,可见光辐照6 h时,得到的Pd纳米盘呈多边形貌,平均粒径为46 nm,对乙醇有较好的电催化活性和抗中毒能力。     

A Three‐Dimensional Gold‐Decorated Nanoporous Copper Core–Shell Composite for Electrocatalysis and Nonenzymatic Biosensing

Bimetallic core–shell nanostructures have attracted increasing attention due to their low material costs along with enhanced chemico‐physical properties in comparison with their monometallic counterparts. Here, a novel gold‐decorated nanoporous copper (Au@NPC) core–shell composite fabricated by a facile in situ hydrometallurgy approach is reported. Thin gold shells with a controllable thickness are homogeneously deposited onto the internal surfaces of 3D nanoporous copper via a spontaneous displacement reaction while nanoporous copper is utilized as a reduction agent as well as 3D template and substrate. The resulting inexpensive core–shell nanostructure exhibits significant electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of methanol and high non‐enzymatic sensitivity in detecting glucose.     

离子液体修饰碳糊电极测定海红果中的槲皮素

用离子液体1-甲基-3-丁基咪唑六氟磷酸盐([bmim]PF6)作修饰剂制备了离子液体修饰碳糊电极(IL/CPE)。在0.2 mol/L B-R(p H 3.2±0.1)缓冲溶液中,采用循环伏安法研究了槲皮素在该修饰电极上的电化学行为,建立了测定槲皮素的新方法。研究表明,槲皮素在IL/CPE电极上的氧化、还原峰电位差比在裸碳糊电极(CPE)上的小,而峰电流却显著增加,说明IL/CPE对槲皮素有电催化作用;在循环伏安曲线上,槲皮素的峰电流与其浓度在0.1~50μmol/L呈良好的线性关系,其线性方程为ip(μA)=3.941 3+0.211 9 c(μmol/L),线性相关系数为0.999 4,检出限为3.0×10-8mol/L。该法用于测定海红果中的槲皮素取得了较好的结果。     

Facile design of Au@Pt core-shell nanostructures: Formation of Pt submonolayers with tunable coverage and their applications in electrocatalysis

A facile design of Pt nanostructures from submonolayer to monolayer has been realized by ion adsorption-in situ electrochemical reduction on Au nanoparticles supported on multiwall carbon nanotubes （CNTs）. The as prepared Au@Pt/CNTs catalysts display coverage-specific electrocatalysis. Au@Pt/CNTs with low Pt coverage is inactive towards methanol oxidation whereas it oxidizes formic acid effectively through a direct pathway with mass specific activity 90 times that of a commercial Pt/C catalyst. Due to its inertness to methanol, it shows high performance in the oxygen reduction reaction （ORR） with high methanol tolerance. In contrast, simply increasing the Pt coverage to above 40% switches the formic acid oxidation process to both direct and indirect catalytic pathways, and also results in high methanol oxidation activity.