A Novel Thin-Layer Flow Cell Sensor System Based on BDD Electrode for Heavy Metal Ion Detection.

An electrochemical sensor based on a thin-layer flow cell and a boron-doped diamond (BDD) working electrode was fabricated for heavy metal ions determination using anodic stripping voltammetry. Furthermore, a fluidic automatic detection system was developed. With the wide potential window of the BDD electrode, Zn2+ with high negative stripping potential was detected by this system. Due to the thin-layer and fluidic structure of the sensor system, the electrodepositon efficiency for heavy metal ions were improved without using conventional stirring devices. With a short deposition time of 60 s, the system consumed only 0.75 mL reagent per test. A linear relationship for Zn2+ determination was displayed ranging from 10 µg/L to 150 µg/L with a sensitivity of 0.1218 µA·L·µg-1 and a detection limit of 2.1 µg/L. A high repeatability was indicated from the relative standard deviation of 1.60% for 30 repeated current responses of zinc solution. The system was applied to determine Zn2+ in real water samples by using the standard addition method with the recoveries ranging from 92% to 118%. The system was also used for the simultaneous detection of Zn2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+. The detection results indicate its potential application in on-site monitoring for mutiple heavy metal ions.

Pattern formation based on the triple-layer coupling mechanism.

We report on the first investigation of the triple-layer coupling pattern formation in a dielectric barrier discharge system. The pattern basically consists of one discharge subpattern ignited in the gas gap and two surface-charge subpatterns deposited on the dielectric surfaces. The coupling of the three subpatterns (layers) is presented by analyzing the time-resolved discharge sequence of a white-eye hexagonal super lattice pattern (WEHSP). A triple-layer coupling reaction-diffusion regime is also established to conduct simulations and the simulated WEHSP agrees well with the experiment. This paper will provide a deeper understanding for the layer coupling mechanism in pattern formation.

[Measurement of plasma parameters in cluster hexagon pattern discharge by optical emission spectrum].

The cluster hexagon pattern was obtained in a dielectric barrier discharge in air/argon for the first time. Three plasma parameters, i. e. the molecular vibrational temperature, the molecular rotational temperature and the average electron energy of individual cluster in cluster hexagon pattern discharge, were studied by changing the air content. The molecular vibrational temperature and the molecular rotational temperature were calculated using the second positive band system of nitrogen molecules (C 3IIu --> B 3IIg) and the first negative band system of nitrogen molecular ions (B 2Sigma(u)+ --> Chi2 Sigma(g)+). The relative intensities of the first negative system of nitrogen molecular ions (391. 4 nm) and nitrogen molecules emission spectrum line (337.1 nm) were analyzed for studying the variations of the electron energy. It was found that the three plasma parameters of individual cluster in cluster hexagon pattern increase with air content increasing from 16% to 24%.

Formation of spiral patterns in dielectric-barrier discharge investigated by an intensified-charge coupled device.

The formation of the spiral patterns in dielectric-barrier discharge is investigated through instantaneous pictures at successive driving half cycles taken by an intensified-charge coupled device (ICCD). The filaments discretely distributed in each instantaneous picture corresponding to one discharge pulse indicate that they are the basic unit of the spiral patterns. An individual filament can undergo two movement states within continuous discharges: pinning at the same locations and shifting along the arm with a small displacement (less than the filament radius), which results in the formation of smooth arms. The averaged correlation time between the instantaneous patterns is found to be about two driving half-cycles by the cross-correlation calculations.

Motion of rotating pairs in a hexagonal superlattice pattern within dielectric barrier discharge.

Stochastic rotation of rotating pairs in a hexagonal superlattice pattern is observed in a dielectric barrier discharge system. It is found that the pairs rotate with orientation and diameter randomly changing by observing a series of frames recorded by a high speed video camera. Frames recorded by a high speed framing camera with an exposure time corresponding to current pulse phases in one half cycle of the applied voltage show that one rotating spot, six small spots, and another rotating spot in one cell discharge successively. Based on this discharging sequence, forces exerted on a rotating spot are analyzed at different discharging stages in a half voltage cycle. A resultant force on a rotating spot with both magnitude and direction varied leads to the stochastic rotation.

[Study on plasma parameters in diffuse discharge with semispherical electrod by optical emission spectrum].

The diffuse discharge plasma in air was observed in a dielectric barrier discharge with two semispherical water electrodes. The variations of vibration temperature, rotation temperature, and average electron energy as the function of the applied voltage were studied by emission spectroscopy. The vibration temperature and the rotation temperature were calculated through the second positive band system (C3Pi(u)-->B3Pi(g)) of N2+ and the first negative band system (B2 Sigma(u+)-->Chi2Sigma(g+)) of N(2+) respectively. The average electron energy was studied by intensity ratio of 391.4 and 337.1 nm. It was found that the rotation temperature increases with the applied voltage increasing, while the vibration temperature and the electron energy decrease.

[Spectra line profile and vibrational temperature of bright dot and dark dot discharge in a dielectric barrier discharge].

The emission spectrum line shift and vibrational temperature of the bright dot and dark dot discharges, which are observed in the argon and air dielectric barrier discharge at high temperature for the first time were measured and compared. The line shift of the spectral line of the Ar I (2P2-->1S5) is measured and the vibrational temperature was calculated using by the emission spectral lines of the N2 second positive band system (C3Pi(u)-->B3Pi(g)). The results show that the spectrum line shift of the bright dot discharge channel is larger than that of the dark dot channel, which indicates that the former has higher electron density compared to the latter, and the vibrational temperature of the dark dot discharge channel is higher than that of the bright dot discharge channel.

[Measurement of molecular vibrational temperature of the white-eye pattern in dielectric barrier discharge].

The white-eye pattern, whose cell is composed of a bright dot surrounded by a closed hexagon, was observed in air/ argon dielectric barrier discharge. It was found that the center dot, the vertex of hexagon and the center of hexagon side in a cell have different brightness. By using optical emission spectra, the vibrational temperature in the center dot, the vertex of hexagon and the center of hexagon side was measured, respectively. The variations in the vibrational temperature at these three places as a function of the content of argon in gas mixture were also studied. The vibrational temperature was calculated by emission spectral lines of the N2 second positive band system (C3IIu --> B3IIg). The experimental results show that the vibrational temperature of the center dot, the vertex of hexagon and the center of hexagon side is in the ascending order and decreases with the increase in the content of argon in gas mixture.