Synergistic Electrocatalytic Effect Research Articles

Core-shell Au/Ag nanoparticles embedded in silicate sol-gel network for sensor application towards hydrogen peroxide

The electrocatalytic activity of core-shell Au100−x Ag x (x = 15, 27, 46, and 60) bimetallic nanoparticles embedded in methyl functionalized silicate MTMOS network towards the reduction of hydrogen peroxide was investigated by using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometric techniques. Core-shell Au/Ag bimetallic nanoparticles were characterized by absorption spectra and HRTEM. The MTMOS silicate sol-gel embedded Au73Ag27 core-shell nanoparticles modified electrode showed better synergistic electrocatalytic effect towards the reduction of hydrogen peroxide when compared to monometal MTMOS-Aunps and MTMOS-Agnps modified electrodes. These modified electrodes were studied without immobilizing any enzyme in the MTMOS sol-gel matrix. The present study highlights the influence of molar composition of Ag nanoparticles in the Au/Ag bimetallic composition towards the electrocatalytic reduction and sensing of hydrogen peroxide in comparison to monometal Au and Ag nanoparticles.

Fabrication of a copper nanoparticle/chitosan/carbon nanotube-modified glassy carbon electrode for electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide and glucose

A high-performance amperometric glucose biosensor was developed, based on immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOx) on a copper (Cu) nanoparticles/chitosan (CHIT)/carbon nanotube (CNT)-modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode. The Cu and CNT had a synergistic electrocatalytic effect toward the reduction of hydrogen peroxide in the matrix of biopolymer CHIT. The Cu/CHIT/CNT modified GC electrode could amplify the reduction current of hydrogen peroxide greatly. Besides, the Cu/CHIT/CNT modified GC electrode reduces hydrogen peroxide at a much lower applied potential and inhibit the responses of interferents. With GOx as an enzyme model, a new glucose biosensor was fabricated. The sensitivity of the sensor is due not only to the large microscopic area but also to the high efficiency of transformation of H2O2 generated by enzymatic reaction to current signal. The biosensor exhibited excellent sensitivity (the detection limit is down to 0.02 mM), fast response time (less than 4 sec), wide linear range (from 0.05 to 12 mM), and perfect selectivity.

A simple method to fabricate a Prussian Blue nanoparticles/carbon nanotubes/poly(1,2-diaminobenzene) based glucose biosensor

A novel Prussian Blue nanoparticles/carbon nanotubes/poly(1,2-diaminobenzene) based glucose biosensor was fabricated by a simple and fast method. Firstly, the Prussian Blue (PB) nanoparticles were direct electrodeposited onto the surface of a glassy carbon electrode modified with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in a short time. Then an ultrathin conducting poly(1,2-diaminobenzene) film was electrodeposited onto the surface of PB/MWNTs nanocomposite to immobilize the glucose oxidase via glutaraldehyde cross-linking. The experiments results showed that the stability of the PB nanoparticles was greatly improved by the MWNTs and the PB/MWNTs nanocomposite exhibited an excellent synergistic electrocatalytic effect toward reduction of hydrogen peroxide. The biosensor showed excellent performances toward determination of glucose. The linear range of the glucose biosensor is from 10 µM to 2.5 mM, with a detection limit of about 5 µM. The response is within less than 5 sec.

A novel glucose biosensor based on immobilization of glucose oxidase in chitosan on a glassy carbon electrode modified with gold–platinum alloy nanoparticles/multiwall carbon nanotubes

A novel glucose biosensor was constructed, based on the immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOx) with cross-linking in the matrix of biopolymer chitosan (CS) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), which was modified with gold–platinum alloy nanoparticles (Au–PtNPs) by electrodeposition on multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in CS film (CNTs/CS). The properties of Au–PtNPs/CNTs/CS were characterized by scan electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). Primary study indicated that Au–PtNPs/CNTs had a better synergistic electrocatalytic effect on the reduction of hydrogen peroxide than did AuNPs/CNTs or PtNPs/CNTs at a low applied potential window. With GOx as a model enzyme, a new glucose biosensor was fabricated. The biosensor exhibited excellent performances for glucose at a low applied potential (0.1 V) with a high sensitivity (8.53 μA mM −1), a low detection limit (0.2 μM), a wide linear range (0.001–7.0 mM), a fast response time (<5 s), and good reproducibility, stability, and selectivity. In addition, the biosensor was applied in the determination of glucose in human blood and urine samples, and satisfied results were obtained.

A novel carbon nanotube-modified biosensor containing a dsDNA-Ni(II) complex membrane, and its use for electro-catalytic oxidation of methanol in alkaline medium

A novel biosensor was fabricated by using a DNA-Ni(II)/MWNTs/Chitosan complex membrane, and the synergistic electrocatalytic effect of the complex membrane for the electro-oxidation of methanol was observed. The membrane composed of DNA, MWNTs and chitosan functioned as a support matrix for the immobilization of the electrocatalytic nickel cation. The good electrocatalytic activity of the resulting DNA-Ni(II)/MWNTs/chitosan/GC electrode was demonstrated by electro-oxidation of methanol in alkaline medium. A linear range from 0.2 to 5.0 mM for the detection of methanol in alkaline medium was observed with a rapid response (within 3 s) and a detection limit of 10 µM based on a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. In addition, the sensor exhibited good stability.

Advances in interactive supported electrocatalysts for hydrogen and oxygen electrode reactions

Magneli phases [A. Magneli, Acta Chem. Scand. 13 (1959) 5] have been introduced as a unique electron conductive and interactive support for electrocatalysis both in hydrogen (HELR) and oxygen (OELR) electrode reactions in water electrolysis and Low Temperature PEM Fuel Cells (LT PEM FC). The Strong Metal-Support Interaction (SMSI) that imposes the former implies: (i) the hypo–hyper-d-interbonding effect and its catalytic consequences, and (ii) the interactive primary oxide (M-OH) spillover from the hypo-d-oxide support as a dynamic electrocatalytic contribution. The stronger the bonding, the more strained appear d-orbitals, thereby the less strong the intermediate adsorptive strength in the rate determining step (RDS), and consequently, the faster the facilitated catalytic electrode reaction arises. At the same time the primary oxide spillover transferred from the hypo-d-oxide support directly interferes and reacts either individually and directly to contribute to finish the oxygen reduction, or with other interactive species, like CO to contribute to the CO tolerance. In such a respect, the conditions to provide Au to act as the reversible hydrogen electrode have been proved either by its potentiodynamic surface reconstruction in a heavy water solution, or by the nanostructured SMSI Au on anatase titania with characteristic strained d-orbitals in such a hypo–hyper-d-interactive bonding (Au/TiO 2). In the same context, some spontaneous tendency towards monoatomic network dispersion of Pt upon Magneli phases makes it possible to produce an advanced interactive supported electrocatalyst for cathodic oxygen reduction (ORR). The strained hypo–hyper-d-interelectronic and inter-d-orbital metal/hypo-d-oxide support bonding relative to the strength of the latter, has been inferred to be the basis of the synergistic electrocatalytic effect both in the HELR and ORR.

New Nanocomposite Based on Prussian Blue Nanoparticles/Carbon Nanotubes/Chitosan and Its Application for Assembling of Amperometric Glucose Biosensor

A new nanocomposite was developed by combination of prussian blue (PB) nanoparticles and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in the matrix of biopolymer chitosan (CHIT). The PB and MWNTs had a synergistic electrocatalytic effect toward the reduction of hydrogen peroxide. The CHIT/MWNTs/PB nanocomposite‐modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode could amplify the reduction current of hydrogen peroxide by ∼35 times compared with that of CHIT/MWNTs/GC electrode and reduce the response time from ∼60 s for CHIT/PB/GC to 3 s. Besides, the CHIT/MWNTs/PB nanocomposite‐modified GC electrode could reduce hydrogen peroxide at a much lower applied potential and inhibit the responses of interferents such as ascorbic acid (AA) uric acid (UA) and acetaminophen (AC). With glucose oxidase (GOx) as an enzyme model, a new glucose biosensor was fabricated. The biosensor exhibited excellent sensitivity (the detection limit is down to 2.5 µM), fast response time (less than 5 s), wide linear range (from 4 µM to 2 mM), and good selection.

Low-Potential Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Detection at a Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Toluidine Blue O Functionalized Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes

The toluidine blue O (TBO) functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) nanomaterials (TBO-MWNTs) were prepared by assembling TBO onto the surface of a MWNTs modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode. Also TBO-MWNTs modified GC electrodes exhibiting a strong and stable electrocatalytic response toward beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) were described. Compared with a bare GC electrode, the TBO-MWNTs modified GC electrodes could decrease the oxidization overpotential of NADH by 730 mV, with a peak current at 0.0 V, since there was a positively synergistic electrocatalytic effect between the MWNTs and TBO toward NADH. Furthermore, the TBO-MWNTs modified GC electrodes had perfect performances, such as a low detection limit (down to 0.5 microM), being very stable (the current diminutions is lower than 6% in a period over 35 min), a fast response (within 3 s), and a wide linear range (from 2.0 microM to 3.5 mM). Such an ability of TBO-MWNTs to promote the NADH electron-transfer reaction suggests great promise for dehydrogenase-based amperometric biosensors.