Synthesis of Electrochemically Reduced Graphene Oxide Bonded to Thiodiazole-Pd and Applications to Biosensor.

A novel biosensor for the determination of hydrogen peroxide and glucose was developed based on EGN-TDZ-Pd, as an electrocatalyst. The preparation of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets was functionalized by combining it with 5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol (TDZ) and by covalently bonding it to palladium (Pd) nanoparticles (GO-TDZ-Pd). In the electrochemical investigation, EGN-TDZ-Pd was characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) were used to characterize the performance of EGN-TDZ-Pd. The proposed H2O2 biosensor exhibited a wide linear range from 10 µM to 6.5 mM. Also, a glucose biosensor was prepared using glucose oxidase and EGN-TDZ-Pd placed onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The GOx/EGN-TDZ-Pd/GCE was easily prepared using a rapid and simple procedure, and it was utilized for highly sensitive glucose determination.

Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Formic Acid in an Alkaline Solution with Graphene-Oxide- Supported Ag and Pd Alloy Nanoparticles.

The electrocatalytic activities of metal-decorated graphene oxide (GO) catalysts were investigated. Electrochemically reduced GO-S-(CH2)4-S-Pd [ERGO-S-(CH2)4-S-Pd] and GO-S-(CH2)4-S-PdAg alloy [ERGO-S-(CH2)4-S-PdAg] were obtained through the electrochemical reduction of GO-S-(CH2)4-S-Pd and GO-S-(CH2)4-S-PdAg in a pH 5 PBS solution. It was demonstrated that the application of ERGO-S-(CH2)4-S-Pd and ERGO-S-(CH2)4-S-PdAg used in a modified GCE improves the electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid. The addition of an Ag nanoparticle with a carbon chain-Pd in the electrode provides an electrode with very interesting properties for the electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid. The ERGO-S-(CH2)4-S-Pd and ERGO-S-(CH2)4-S-PdAg were characterized via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). ERGO-S-(CH2)4-S-Pd and ERGO-S-(CH2)4-S-PdAg can be employed for the electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid. The electrochemical behaviors of this electrode were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).

Characteristic electronic perturbation by asymmetric arrangements of p-aminophenyl substituents in free-base porphyrins.

We have investigated the perturbed electronic properties of meso-substituted free-base porphyrins with symmetric and asymmetric arrangements of substituents using time-resolved spectroscopic measurements and theoretical calculations. The extent of electronic perturbation by substituents in meso-substituted porphyrins is mainly affected by the isoenergetic condition of frontier MOs of porphine and substituent units, nonorthogonal geometry, and geometrical arrangement of substituents. By using the asymmetric arrangements of p-aminophenyl and pentafluorophenyl substituents, we can induce the electron-rich condition on the porphine unit and the intramolecular charge transfer character in the excited state. On the basis of this work, we can gain further insight into the energetic and geometric factors of substituents, the interaction between porphine and substituent units, and the perturbed photophysical and electronic properties by substituents, which provides a firm basis for further understanding of the catalytic activities or photophysical properties of porphyrins in porphyrin-based molecular catalysts and electronics.

Electrochemical sensing of H2O2 by the modified electrode with pd nanoparticles on multi-walled carbon nanotubes-g-poly(lactic acid).

A simple method has adapted to prepare MWCNT grafted Poly(lactic acid) (MWCNT-g-PLA) by intercalative polymerization of poly(lactic acid) in the presence of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) functionalized with hydroxyl groups. The functionalized MWCNT has obtained from the treatment of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) with MWCNT, and then the reaction with 1,4-butanediol (BD) to create functional hydroxyl groups. MWCNT-g-PLA-Pd and MWCNT-g-PLA-Pt have prepared from the MWCNT-g-PLA and metal precursors. The synthesized materials have characterized by 1H-NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The MWCNT-g-PLA-Pd is possibilities for employing to electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide. Electrocatalytic activities are verified from cyclic voltammetry (CV) and amperometric response in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The biosensor provided good stability and selectivity towards interferences such as UA, AA, and glucose.

A green preparation of nitrogen doped graphene using urine for oxygen reduction in alkaline fuel cells.

A simple, eco-friendly and efficient harmless chemical approach has been developed for the simultaneous nitrogen (N) doping and reduction of graphene oxide (GO) by cost free human urine using simple refluxing. Large-scale preparation of graphene has been hindered largely by several issues, such as highly toxic reducing agents that are harmful to human health and environment, complicated reduction process and costly chemicals. Human urine is a natural precursor of urea with no cost. In this process, the NH3 has acted as not only reducing but also doping agent that produced via thermal decomposition of urea, while the N doping level of ~11.1 at% is achieved. For the first time we have used urine as a reductant and doping agent in such a high class chemical technology. The simultaneous reduction and N-doping of GO using urine (denoted as UNG) have confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The resultant UNG has demonstrated to show remarkable electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with better fuel selectivity, and stability than that of the commercially available 20 wt% Pt/C electrode using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry.

Covalent hybridization of thiolated graphene sheet and platinum nanoparticles for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction.

A covalently bonded thiolated graphene sheet-supported platinum electrocatalyst (GOS-Pt) has synthesized for electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in neutral media. The catalyst's structural features are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Its activity towards the ORR has investigated by using cyclic voltammetry (CV), rotating disk electrode (RDE), and rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) in 0.1 mol l(-1) phosphate buffer solution (PBS) at pH 7, which is also used to assess the catalyst's kinetic parameters. On a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), the catalyst shows a significant catalytic activity, with its electrocatalysis of O2 reduction occurring via four-electron transfer reduction to H2O with minimal generation of H2O2.