Chemical analysis modified electrodes

The use of non-inert and chemically modified electrodes and other strategies for the detection of species that are difficult to analyze with the normal electrode materials have been reviewed.55 Photosensitization prior to amperometric detection is another tactic that has proved useful for the analysis of substances that are normally considered to be electrochemically inert.56 The use of pulsed amperometry has recently been reviewed.57... 

From a survey of the literature in chemically modified electrodes [13], one can identify simple phenomenological models that have been very successful for the analysis of a particular aspect of the experimental data. Such models are, for instance, the Dorman partition model [24, 122], the Laviron [158], Albery [159] and Anson models [127] to account for the nonideal peak width, the Smith and White model for the interfacial potential distribution [129], and so on. Most of these models contain one or more adjustable parameters that give some partial information about the system. For example, the lateral interaction model proposed by Anson [127] provides a value for the lateral interactions between oxidized and reduced sites, but does not explain the origin of the interactions, neither does it predict how they depend on the experimental conditions or the polymer structure. In addition, none of these models provide information on the interfacial structure. 

This review gives a brief summary of the "types of chemically modified electrodes, their fabrication, and some examples of their uses. One especially promising area of application is that of selective chemical analysis. In general, the approach used is to attach to the electrode surface electrochemically reactive molecules which have electrocatalytic activity toward specific substrates or analytes. In addition, the incorporation of biochemical systems should greatly extend the usefulness of these devices for analytical purposes. 

To characterize the properties of molecules and polymer films attached to an electrode surface, a wide variety of methods have been used to measure the electroactivity, chemical reactivity, and surface structure of the electrode-immobilized materials [9]. These methods have been primarily electrochemical and spectral as indicated in Table I. Suffice it to say that a multidisciplinary approach is needed to adequately characterize chemically modified electrodes combining electrochemical methods with surface analysis techniques and a variety of other chemical and physical approaches. 

This brief review attempts to summarize the salient features of chemically modified electrodes, and, of necessity, does not address many of the theoretical and practical concepts in any real detail. It is clear, however, that this field will continue to grow rapidly in the future to provide electrodes for a variety of purposes including electrocatalysis, electrochromic displays, surface corrosion protection, electrosynthesis, photosensitization, and selective chemical concentration and analysis. But before many of these applications are realized, numerous unanswered questions concerning surface orientation, bonding, electron-transfer processes, mass-transport phenomena and non-ideal redox behavior must be addressed. This is a very challenging area of research, and the potential for important contributions, both fundamental and applied, is extremely high. 

A study by Rasemann et al. demonstrated to what extent mercury concentrations depend on the method of handling soil samples between sampling and chemical analysis for samples from a nonuniformly contaminated site [152], Sample pretreatment contributed substantially to the variance in results and was of the same order as the contribution from sample inhomogeneity. Welz et al. [153] and Baxter [154] have conducted speciation studies on mercury in soils. Lexa and Stulik [155] employed a gold film electrode modified by a film of tri-n-octylphosphinc oxide in a PVC matrix to determine mercury in soils. Concentrations of mercury as low as 0.02 ppm were determined. 

This paper will survey the current status of surface analysis in the examination of chemically modified electrode surfaces. In doing so, we shall take selected examples from our laboratory and the literature to illustrate some of the methods that have been employed to answer questions about surface topography, atomic and molecular speciation, and molecular orientation and bonding. 

Table I. Prospective Methods for the Analysis of Chemically Modified Electrodes...

Gorton and coworkers have been particularly active in this field and produced an excellent review of the methods and approaches used for the successful chemical modification of electrodes for NADH oxidation [33]. They concentrated mainly on the adsorption onto electrode surfaces of mediators which are known to oxidise NADH in solution. The resulting systems were based on phenazines [34], phenoxazines [35, 36] and pheno-thiazines [32]. To date, this approach has produced some of the most successful electrodes for NADH oxidation. However, attempts to use similar mediators attached to poly(siloxane) films at electrode surfaces have proved less successful. Kinetic analysis of the results indicates that this is because of the slow charge transfer between the redox centres within the film so that the catalytic oxidation of NADH is restricted to a thin layer nearest the electrode surface [37, 38]. This illustrates the importance of a charge transfer between mediator groups in polymer modified electrodes. 

Thin layer concepts may also be involved in metal deposition into thin films of mercury during stripping analysis, in (electro)chemical processes in adsorbates, films or precipitates on modified electrodes, or in scanning electrochemical microscopy. 

Smith, D.F., Wilhnan, K., Kuo, K., and Murray R.W. 1979. Chemically modified electrodes XV. Electrochemistry and waveshape analysis of aminophenylferrocene bonded to acid chloride functionalized ruthenium, platinum, and tin oxide electrodes. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry 95, 217-227. 

Fig. 39. Flow injection analysis (FIA) system for the determination of glucose involving a GDH reactor and a chemically modified electrode for NADH measurement. (Redrawn from Appelqvist et al 1985).

ADP AFP ab as ALAT AP ASAT ATP BQ BSA CEH CK CME COD con A CV d D E E EC ECME EDTA EIA /e FAD FET FIA G GOD G6P-DH HBg HCG adenosine diphosphate a-fetoprotein antibody antigen alanine aminotranferase alkaline phosphatase aspartate aminotransferase adenosine triphosphate benzoquinone bovine serum albumin cholesterol ester hydrolase creatine kinase chemically modified electrode cholesterol oxidase concanavalin A coefficient of variation (relative standard deviation) layer thickness diffusion coefficient enzyme potential Enzyme Classification enzyme-chemically modified electrode ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid enzyme immunoassay enzyme loading factor flavin adenine dinucleotide field effect transistor flow injection analysis amplification factor glucose oxidase glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase hepatitis B surface antigen human chorionic gonadotropin... 

H. J. Wieck, Characterization of Immobilized Enzyme Chemically Modified Electrodes and Their Application in Flow Injection Analysis. Diss. Abstr. Int. B., 44 (1983) 1449. 

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