Electrochemical behaviour and detection of Co(II) in molten glass by cyclic and square wave voltammetry

An electrochemical method for a rapid and sensitive immunoassay on digital microfluidics with integrated indium tin oxide electrodes coated on a PET film

Electrochemical detection is the simplest analytical tool to be integrated into digital microfluidics (DMF). It offers the advantages of small size, with detector electrodes incorporated into the device by patterning, and high compatibility with portable analytical instruments. Indium tin oxide (ITO) coated on glass has been commonly used for the top plate of DMF due to its good conductivity and transparency. However, instability and the low current response of ITO electrodes patterned on glass hindered their application for immunoassays. It has been reported that ITO coated on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has better conductivity, owing to its higher carrier concentration, faster mobility and lower resistivity. Herein, we investigated the use of ITO electrodes patterned on PET film as the top plate of DMF for a simple and stable electrochemical immunoassay using square wave voltammetry (SWV), with an excellent peak resolution and high sensitivity. A magnetic bead-based immunoassay for H5N1 antigen was performed on a DMF platform with a limit of detection of 0.6 ng mL^-1 in buffer and 18 ng mL^-1 in human serum. These results showed the good electrochemical performance of ITO coated on a PET film, a lightweight, shock resistant and cost-effective material, which is promising for DMF fabrication and transparent electrodes for various electroanalytical methods.

Detection of Toxic Heavy Metal, Co(II) Trace via Voltammetry with Semiconductor Microelectrodes

The cobalt (Co(II)) ion is a main component of alloys and considered to be carcinogenic, especially due to the carcinogenic and toxicological effects in the aquatic environment. The toxic trace of the Co(II) detection was conducted using the infrared photodiode electrode (IPDE) using a working electrode, via the cyclic and square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry. The results indicated a sensitive oxidation peak current of Co(II) on the IPDE. Under the optimal conditions, the common-type glassy carbon, the metal platinum, the carbon paste, and the carbon fiber microelectrode were compared with the IPDE in the electrolyte using the standard Co(II). The IPDE was found to be far superior to the others.

Electrochemistry of Zn and co-reduction of Zn and Sm from LiCl–KCl melt

SEM image and element mapping analysis of Zn–Sm alloy obtained by galvanostatic electrolysis.

An investigation into the electrochemical recovery of rare earth ions in a CsCl-based molten salt

A CsCl-based melt, was used as a supporting electrolyte for a fuel cycle in pyrochemical separation, as it has a high solubility for lanthanide oxide. Cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry were carried out to investigate the cathodic reduction of those rare earth ions. The results prove that the cathodic process of La(III) ions dissolved in a CsCl-based melt, with a one-step reduction La(3+)+3e(-)=La, and is similar to those of other reports which have utilised LiCl-KCl or CaCl(2)-KCl molten salt systems. However, for the Ce(III) ions that dissolved in a CsCl-based melt, there is a significant difference when compared with published literature as there are two reduction steps instead of the reported single step Ce(3+)+e(-)=Ce(2+) and Ce(2+)+2e(-)=Ce. In order to explain the novel result, a detailed investigation was focused on the cathodic process of Ce(III) in a CsCl-based melt. The identification of the M-O (M=La, Ce) compounds that are stable in the electrolyte, as well as the determination of their solubility products, were carried out by potentiometric titration using an oxide ion sensor. Furthermore, the E-pO(2-) (potential-oxide ion) diagram for the M-O stable compound was constructed by combining both theoretical and experimental data.