Poly gels, electrodes

Gozdz et al. (of Bellcore) [25] recognized that poly (vinylidene difluoride) hexafluoropropylene (PVDF HFP) copolymers could form gels with organic solvents and developed an entire battery based on this concept. Typically, the gel separator is 50 pm thick and comprises 60wt. % polymer. In the Bellcore process the separator is laminated to the electrodes under pressure at elevated temperature. The use of the PVDF HFP gelling agent increases the resistivity of the electrolyte by about five times which limits the rate capability of such batteries. 

Acetylcholineesterase and choline oxidase A glassy C electrode surface was modified with osmium poly (vinyl-pyridine) redox polymer containing horseradish peroxidase (Os-gel-HRP) and then coated with a co-immobilized layer of AChE and ChO. A 22 pL pre-reactor, in which ChO and catalase were immobilized on beads in series, was used to remove choline. The variation in extracellular concentration of ACh released from rat hippocampal tissue culture by electrical stimulation was observed continuously with the online biosensor combined with a microcapillary sampling probe. Measurement of ACh and Ch was carried out by using a split disc C film dual electrode. 

In addition, various gel electrolytes were investigated for EDLC as well. Polyethylene oxide) (PEO)-, poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN)-, polymethylmethacrylate) (PMMA)- and poly(vinylidene flouride) (PVdF)-based gel electrolytes, which have been applied for secondary lithium batteries [5-7,50,51,64], were also studied as electrolyte systems for EDLC with carbon electrodes [65-68],... 

The first electrode for urea was prepared by immobilizing urease in a poly-acrylcimide gel on nylon or Dacron nets. The nets were placed onto a Beckman electrode (NH J selective) (59). In a later development, the electrode was improved by covering the enzyme gel layer with a cellophane membrane to prevent leaching of urease into the solution (60). The urease electrode could be used for 21 days with no loss of activity. 

Sol-gels containing electroactive species have been used in the development of both amperometric and potentiometric electrodes. Films coated with anionic poly-(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (PDMDAAC) and cationic poly(vinylsulfonic acid) were used to concentrate Ru(bpy)3 + and the hexacyanoferrate anion, respectively, for use as amperometric electrodes [208a]. The detection limit by square-wave voltammetry improved by up to 50-fold compared with uncovered electrodes. In Figure 41, curve 1 corresponds to a bare graphite electrode, curve 2 to a sol-gel-covered electrode and curve 3 to a sol-gel-PDMDAAC-modified electrode after 10 min of exposure to Fe(CN)g. ... 

Efforts to stabilize BLMs by the use of polymerizable lipids have been successful, but the electrochemical properties of these membranes were greatly compromised and ion channel phenomena could not be observed [21]. Microfiltration and polycarbonate filters, polyimide mesh, and hydrated gels have been used successfully as stabilizing supports for the formation of black lipid films [22-25] and these systems were observed to retain their electrical and permeability characteristics [24]. Poly(octadec-l-ene-maleic anhydride) (PA-18) was found to be an excellent intermediate layer for interfacing phospholipids onto solid substrates, and is sufficiently hydrophilic to retain water for unimpeded ion transfer at the electrode-PA-18 interface [26]. Hydrostatic stabilization of solventless BLMs has been achieved by the transfer of two lipid monolayers onto the aperture of a closed cell compartment however, the use of a system for automatic digital control of the transmembrane pressure difference was necessary [27]. 

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