Electrochemistry in nanoparticle science

Nanomaterials and Their Recent Applications in Impedimetric Biosensing

Impedimetric biosensors measure changes in the electrical impedance due to a biochemical process, typically the binding of a biomolecule to a bioreceptor on the sensor surface. Nanomaterials can be employed to modify the biosensor's surface to increase the surface area available for biorecognition events, thereby improving the sensitivity and detection limits of the biosensor. Various nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, quantum dots, metal nanoparticles, and graphene oxide nanoparticles, have been investigated for impedimetric biosensors. These nanomaterials have yielded promising results in improving sensitivity, selectivity, and overall biosensor performance. Hence, they offer a wide range of possibilities for developing advanced biosensing platforms that can be employed in various fields, including healthcare, environmental monitoring, and food safety. This review focuses on the recent developments in nanoparticle-functionalized electrochemical-impedimetric biosensors.

An electrochemical biosensor for the rapid genetic identification of Musang King durian

More than 200 different cultivars of durian exist worldwide but Durio zibethinus or Musang King (MK) is the most premium and prized durian fruit among the recommended varieties. Early identification of this premium variety is critical to protect from non-authentic MK durian cultivars. However, the MK variety's morphological traits are nearly identical to other varieties. Currently, the identification of durian varieties is mostly performed via evaluation of leaf shape, fruit shape, aroma, taste and seed shape and this requires trained personnel for the morphology observation. To enable the rapid identification of the MK variety, PCR amplification of ten durian varieties using six gene candidates from the chloroplast genome was first performed to obtain DNA probes that were specific to the MK durian variety. PCR amplification of ten durian varieties using primers designed confirmed that the nadhA gene sequence showed an obvious difference in the MK variety from other durian varieties. The unique sequence of MK was used as a DNA probe to develop an electrochemical biosensor for the direct identification of the MK durian variety. The electrochemical biosensor was based on the hybridization response of the immobilized DNA probe with the target DNA from the MK variety and was monitored via differential pulse voltammetry technique. Under optimal conditions, the DNA electrochemical biosensor showed a low detection limit at 10% of MK genomic DNA concentration with a wide linear calibration range of 0.05-1.5 µM (R² = 0.9891) and RSD value of 3.77% (n = 3). The results of the developed DNA biosensor provide high promise for the development of portable sensors employed in the determination of MK variety in the field.

Electrochemical Synthesis of Unique Nanomaterials in Ionic Liquids

The review considers the features of the processes of the electrochemical synthesis of nanostructures in ionic liquids (ILs), including the production of carbon nanomaterials, silicon and germanium nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, nanomaterials and surface nanostructures based on oxides. In addition, the analysis of works on the synthesis of nanoscale polymer films of conductive polymers prepared using ionic liquids by electrochemical methods is given. The purpose of the review is to dwell upon an aspect of the applicability of ILs that is usually not fully reflected in modern literature, the synthesis of nanostructures (including unique ones that cannot be obtained in other electrolytes). The current underestimation of ILs as an electrochemical medium for the synthesis of nanomaterials may limit our understanding and the scope of their potential application. Another purpose of our review is to expand their possible application and to show the relative simplicity of the experimental part of the work.

Controlling palladium morphology in electrodeposition from nanoparticles to dendrites via the use of mixed solvents

By changing the mole fraction of water (χwater) in the solvent acetonitrile (MeCN), we report a simple procedure to control nanostructure morphology during electrodeposition. We focus on the electrodeposition of palladium (Pd) on electron beam transparent boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. Three solutions are employed, MeCN rich (90% v/v MeCN, χwater = 0.246), equal volumes (50% v/v MeCN, χwater = 0.743) and water rich (10% v/v MeCN, χwater = 0.963), with electrodeposition carried out under a constant, and high overpotential (-1.0 V), for fixed time periods (50, 150 and 300 s). Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) reveals that in MeCN rich solution, Pd atoms, amorphous atom clusters and (majority) nanoparticles (NPs) result. As water content is increased, NPs are again evident but also elongated and defected nanostructures which grow in prominence with time. In the water rich environment, NPs and branched, concave and star-like Pd nanostructures are now seen, which with time translate to aggregated porous structures and ultimately dendrites. We attribute these observations to the role MeCN adsorption on Pd surfaces plays in retarding metal nucleation and growth.

Specific and Sensitive Isothermal Electrochemical Biosensor for Plant Pathogen DNA Detection with Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles as Probes

Developing quick and sensitive molecular diagnostics for plant pathogen detection is challenging. Herein, a nanoparticle based electrochemical biosensor was developed for rapid and sensitive detection of plant pathogen DNA on disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes. This 60 min assay relied on the rapid isothermal amplification of target pathogen DNA sequences by recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) followed by gold nanoparticle-based electrochemical assessment with differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Our method was 10,000 times more sensitive than conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/gel electrophoresis and could readily identify P. syringae infected plant samples even before the disease symptoms were visible. On the basis of the speed, sensitivity, simplicity and portability of the approach, we believe the method has potential as a rapid disease management solution for applications in agriculture diagnostics.

Free Electrons to Molecular Bonds and Back: Closing the Energetic Oxygen Reduction (ORR)-Oxygen Evolution (OER) Cycle Using Core-Shell Nanoelectrocatalysts

Nanomaterial science and electrocatalytic science have entered a successful "nanoelectrochemical" symbiosis, in which novel nanomaterials offer new frontiers for studies on electrocatalytic charge transfer, while electrocatalytic processes give meaning and often practical importance to novel nanomaterial concepts. Examples of this fruitful symbiosis are dealloyed core-shell nanoparticle electrocatalysts, which often exhibit enhanced kinetic charge transfer rates at greatly improved atom-efficiency. As such, they represent ideal electrocatalyst architectures for the acidic oxygen reduction reaction to water (ORR) and the acidic oxygen evolution reaction from water (OER) that require scarce Pt- and Ir-based catalysts. Together, these two reactions constitute the "O-cycle", a key elemental process loop in the field of electrochemical energy interconversion between electricity (free electrons) and molecular bonds (H₂O/O₂), realized in the combination of water electrolyzers and hydrogen/oxygen fuel cells. In this Account, we describe our recent efforts to design, synthesize, understand, and test noble metal-poor dealloyed Pt and Ir core-shell nanoparticles for deployment in acidic polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzers and PEM fuel cells. Spherical dealloyed Pt core-shell particles, derived from PtNi₃ precursor alloys, showed favorable ORR activity. More detailed size-activity correlation studies further revealed that the 6-8 nm diameter range is a most desirable initial particle size range in order to maximize the particle Ni content after ORR testing and to preserve performance stability. Similarly, dealloyed and oxidized IrO_x core-shell particles derived from Ni-rich Ir-Ni precursor particles proved highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts in acidic conditions. In addition to the noble metal savings in the particle cores, the Pt core-shell particles are believed to benefit in terms of their mass-based electrochemical kinetics from surface lattice strain effects that tune the adsorption energies and barriers of elementary steps. The molecular mechanism of the kinetic benefit of the dealloyed IrO_x particle needs more attention, but there is mounting evidence for ligand hole effects in defect-rich IrO_x shells that generate preactive oxygen centers.

[Screening of potential substrates or inhibitors of cytochrome P450 17A1 (CYP17A1) by electrochemical methods]

The electrochemical reduction of the recombinant form of human cytochrome P450 17A1 (CYP17A1) was investigated. Hemeprotein was immobilized on electrode modified with biocompatable nanocomposite material based on the membrane-like synthetic surfactant didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) and gold nanoparticles. Analytical characteristics of DDAB/Au/CYP17A1 electrodes were investigated with cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry. Analysis of electrochemical behaviour of cytochrome P450 17A1 was conducted in the presence of substrate pregnenolone (1), inhibitor ketoconazole (2), and in the presence of synthetic derivatives of pregnenolone: acetylpregnenolone (3), cyclopregnenolone (4), and tetrabrompregnenolone (5). Ketoconazole, azole inhibitor of cytochromes P450, blocked catalytic current in the presence of substrate pregnenolone (1). Compounds 3-5 did not demonstrate substrate properties towards electrode/CYP17A1 system. Compound 3 did not block catalytic activity towards pregnenolone, but compounds 4 and 5 inhibited such activity. Electrochemical reduction of CYP17A1 may serve as an adequate substitution of the reconstituted system which requires additional redox partners - for the exhibition of catalytic activity of hemoproteins of the cytochrome P450 superfamily.

Ferrocene-coated CdSe/ZnS quantum dots as electroactive nanoparticles hybrids

Electrochemical properties of core-shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) in a non-aqueous solution are presented. Cathodic reduction and anodic oxidation processes involving the QD HOMO and LUMO levels as well as defect states were identified by cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical bandgap was estimated from the anodic and cathodic redox peaks and found to match well with the optical bandgap estimated from the absorption spectrum. The trioctylphosphine oxide ligands on the surface of the QDs were exchanged to electroactive ferrocenyl thiols and the resulting material was characterized by NMR and optical spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry showed that the redox potentials of the QDs are modified due to the presence of ferrocene on the surface of the QD. The QD oxidation peak decreased and the reduction peak shifted to more negative potentials. The concurrent shift of the ferrocene redox peaks indicates that the system displays features of a 'molecular hybrid', where both the QD and the ligand influence each other.

Monte Carlo Simulation of Kinetically Limited Electrodeposition on a Surface with Metal Seed Clusters

Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations were carried out to simulate kinetic-limited electrodeposition of a metal (M) onto an array of pre-existing metal clusters on a substrate (S) of a second conducting material. Electrochemical reaction and surface diffusion were accounted for in a KMC code which tracked deposit growth with a (2+1)-dimensional approach. Beginning with various arrangements of ten-atom metal seed clusters on a substrate platform of 300 × 300 fcc lattice sites, KMC simulations were carried out to investigate the evolution of the surface morphology. The influence of the number (spacing) of pre-existing seed clusters, the applied potential, and the metal–substrate surface diffusion energy barrier were investigated. It was found that when 16 or fewer seed clusters were present on the surface prior to electrodeposition, the resulting nucleation distribution was dominated by secondary nuclei formed during deposition. For substrates with a metal–substrate surface diffusion energy barrier greater than 3.5 × 10-20 J, it was more difficult to control the uniform growth of the seed clusters owing to the nucleation of secondary clusters. At lower applied potentials it was found that larger nuclei could be grown with a more controlled size distribution because fewer secondary nuclei were formed. Furthermore, it was found that larger clusters with a more controlled size distribution can be grown when more clusters are seeded onto the surface because the deposited atoms were more likely to attach to existing clusters, than to form secondary nuclei.

Sizing, stoichiometry and optical absorbance variations of colloidal cadmium sulphide nanoparticles

Simple preparative methods were used to synthesise cadmium sulphide particles in the size ranges larger than those associated with quantum confinement. UV/visible absorption spectra were measured. Rayleigh and Mie theories were used to analyse normalised absorption spectra to allow estimates of particle size and number to be obtained simultaneously. Each model was utilised in an appropriate size and wavelength range. Surprisingly, Mie calculations were found to over-estimate the absorbance of particles below 50 nm radius. Powder X-ray diffraction results showed the crystallites to be independent of particle size and suggested that the particles grew through aggregation of smaller bodies. The Mie results could therefore be interpreted in terms of changes in the particles' optical indicatrix with radius. Large poly-crystalline particles (>50 nm radius) should possess a near spherical indicatrix, fulfilling the assumptions of the Mie theory. The indicatrix of particles smaller than 50 nm should become increasingly anisotropic with decreasing size, leading to discrepancies between the Mie model and measured data. Although the results could also be explained through changes in the magnitude of the particle refractive index, compositional (Auger electron spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis) and structural (powder X-ray diffraction) analyses of the particles complicate the hypothesis. Energy dispersive X-ray results showed that small cadmium sulphide particles possessed a large excess of sulphur suggesting a change in effective cadmium sulphide stoichiometry.

Electrodeposition of nanostructured coatings and their characterization-A review

Nanostructured materials have gained importance in recent years due to their significantly enhanced properties. In particular, electrochemistry has a special role in producing a variety of nanostructured materials. In the current review, we discuss the superiority of electrochemical deposition techniques in synthesizing various nanomaterials that exhibit improved characteristics compared with materials produced by conventional techniques, as well as their classification, synthesis routes, properties and applications. The superior properties of a nanostructured nickel coating produced by electrochemical deposition are outlined. The properties of various nanostructured coating materials produced by electrochemical techniques are also described. Finally, the importance of nanostructured coatings in industrial applications as well as their potential in future technologies is emphasized.

Electrochemical reduction of sterol-14α-demethylase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (CYP51b1)

The electrochemical reduction of the heme protein sterol-14alpha-demethylase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (CYP51b1, or further CYP51) was investigated. Direct electron transfer was demonstrated between CYP51 and graphite screen-printed electrodes modified with gold nanoparticles and with the membrane-like synthetic surfactant didodecyl dimethylammonium bromide. The formal potential of the Fe3+/Fe2+ pair, E(1/2), is equal to -273 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl). The cathodic current corresponding to the reduction of oxygen by immobilized heme protein was registered in the presence of oxygen. Addition of lanosterol, one of the substrates of the CYP51 family, to the oxygenated solution caused a concentration-dependent increase in the reduction current in voltammetric and amperometric experiments. Ketoconazole, an inhibitor of CYP51, inhibited the catalytic cathodic current in the presence of lanosterol. Electrochemical reduction of CYP51 may serve as an adequate alternative to the reconstituted system, which requires additional redox partners for the exhibition of catalytic activity of heme proteins of the cytochrome P450 superfamily.

Electrochemical properties of cytochroms P450 using nanostructured electrodes: Direct electron transfer and electro catalysis

The present study demonstrates direct electron transfer between cytochromes P450 2B4 (CYP2B4), P450 1A2 (CYP1A2), sterol 14alpha-demethylase (CYP51b1) on the one hand and screen-printed graphite electrodes, modified with gold nanoparticles and didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) on the other. Electro detection of heme proteins was possible when 2-200 pmol P450/electrode were adsorbed on the surface of nanostructured electrochemical interfaces. Electron transfer, direct electrochemical reduction and interaction with P450 substrates (oxygen, benzphetamine, and lanosterol) and with P450 inhibitor (ketoconazole) were analyzed using cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SWV) differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and amperometry.

Electrochemistry of a carbon microfiber adsorbed by cobalt nanoparticles

The adsorption of cobalt nanoparticles on a carbon microfiber surface has been electrochemicaly detected. The redox processes observed in an electrochemical cell filled with redistilled water and equipped with the carbon fiber microelectrode modified by cobalt nanoparticles have been compared to those observed in an aqueous solution of Co2+ cations. The movement of the adsorbed nanoparticles has been demonstrated by the feedback capacitance-potential method.

Electrochemical reduction of cytochrome P450 as an approach to the construction of biosensors and bioreactors

In the present review an attempt was made to present an up-to-date amount of the data on electrochemical reduction of the hemoprotein cytochrome P450. The concept and potentialities of enzyme electrodes--transducers--as the main element for construction of electrochemical biosensors were discussed. Different types of electrodes for bioelectrochemistry were analysed. New nanotechnological approaches to cytochrome P450 immobilisation were reported. It was shown that nanobiotechnology in electrochemistry has potential application in manufacturing biosensors and bioreactors for clinical medicine and pharmacology.