Biomedical subjects

Craig E Banks

Publications and source records attributed to Craig E Banks.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

The electrochemical oxidation of ammonia at boron-doped diamond electrodes exhibits analytically useful signals in aqueous solutions.

Boron-doped diamond electrodes are shown to exhibit well-defined analytically useful voltammetric signals for the electrochemical oxidation of ammonia in aqueous solutions in comparison to commonly used carbon based electrode substrates. Proof-of-concept is shown for the construction of a miniature amperometric ammonia gas sensor utilising conductive boron-doped diamond.

Ammonia↗

PubMed2005

Boron-doped diamond microdisc arrays: electrochemical characterisation and their use as a substrate for the production of microelectrode arrays of diverse metals (Ag, Au, Cu)via electrodeposition.

A novel boron-doped diamond (BDD) microelectrode array is characterised with electrochemical and atomic force microscopic techniques. The array consists of 40 micron-diameter sized BDD discs which are separated by 250 microns from their nearest neighbour in a hexagonal arrangement. The conducting discs can be electroplated to produce arrays of copper, silver or gold for analytical purposes in addition to operating as an array of BDD-microelectrodes. Proof-of-concept is shown for four separate examples; a gold plated array for arsenic detection, a copper plated array for nitrate analysis, a silver plated array for hydrogen peroxide monitoring and last, cathodic stripping voltammetry for lead at the bare BDD-array.

Arsenic↗

PubMed2005

Exploring the electrocatalytic sites of carbon nanotubes for NADH detection: an edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrode study.

The electrocatalytic properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube modified electrodes toward the oxidation of NADH are critically evaluated. Carbon nanotube modified electrodes are examined and compared with boron-doped diamond and glassy carbon electrodes, and most importantly, edge plane and basal pyrolytic graphite electrodes. It is found that CNT modified electrodes are no more reactive than edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes with the comparison with edge plane and basal plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes allowing the electroactive sites for the electrochemical oxidation of NADH to be unambiguously determined as due to edge plane sites. Using these highly reactive edge plane sites, edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes are examined with cyclic voltammetry and amperometry for the electroanalytical determination of NADH. It is demonstrated that a detection limit of 5 microM is possible with cyclic voltammetry or 0.3 microM using amperometry suggesting that edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes can conveniently replace carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrodes for biosensing applications with the relative advantages of reactivity, cost and simplicity of preparation. We advocate the routine use of edge plane and basal plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes in studies utilising carbon nanotubes particularly if 'electrocatalytic' properties are claimed for the latter.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Acoustically fabricated random microelectrode assemblies.

We report the insonation of bismuth, silver, copper and tungsten metal particles suspended in octane in the vicinity of a glassy carbon electrode. AFM and voltammetry reveal that metal particles are immobilised onto the electrode substrate. In the case of bismuth, silver and copper, the possible melting of the metal particles due to the high sonochemical conditions cannot unambiguously be ruled out. However, it is likely that the immobilisation of the metal particles occurs predominantly through mechanical attachment due to the high rates of mass transport, evidenced from the fact that tungsten can be immobilised at a glassy carbon surface which has a melting point (mp 3410 degrees C) outside the likely sonochemical conditions. The immobilised particles are found to be in electrical contact with the glassy carbon electrodes which can then act as random assemblies of microelectrodes. Proof-of-concept for use in electro-analysis is examined for the possible detection of arsenic and cadmium at a silver and bismuth random microelectrode assemblies, respectively. This approach suggests a simple generic methodology for the construction of microelectrode assemblies via abrasive attachment induced by insonation with power ultrasound.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

All-diamond microelectrode array device.

We report the development of all-diamond microelectrochemical devices, namely, a microelectrode array (MEA), in which a periodic array structure with well-defined diameters, distance, and hexagonal unit cell pattern is micromachined using a combination of state-of-the-art microwave-induced plasma growth and laser ablation shaping techniques to prepare and coat a patterned boron-doped diamond (BDD) substrate with an intrinsic diamond insulating layer. The active BDD element can be tuned to between 10 and 50 microm in diameter with a 10 times diameter center-to-center distance between two adjacent conducting elements, which are exactly coplanar to the dielectric surroundings. This type of device should enable applications in harsh conditions such as high temperature, high pressure, and resistive media under dynamic flow regimes.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Gas sensing using edge-plane pyrolytic-graphite electrodes: electrochemical reduction of chlorine.

The voltammetric responses of chlorine in aqueous acid solutions have been explored using different carbon-based electrodes. Edge-plane pyrolytic graphite has more electrochemical reversibility than glassy carbon, basal-plane pyrolytic graphite, or boron-doped diamond electrodes. A significant reduction in the over-potential is observed on the edge-plane pyrolytic-graphite electrode in contrast with the other carbon-based electrode substrates. These results suggest that edge-plane pyrolytic graphite can be optimally used as the working electrodes in Clark-cell devices for low-potential amperometric gas sensing of Cl2.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Computational electrochemistry: finite element simulation of a disk electrode with ultrasonic acoustic streaming.

Computer simulations using the finite element method (FEM) are used to predict the correlation between the transport limiting current (I(lim)) and parameters such as diffusion coefficient, source to electrode separation, source power, and medium viscosity for a sonicated disk electrode in "face on" mode. The fluid dynamics and diffusion layer are modeled directly using FEM and predict that the electrode is uniformly accessible, I(lim) is proportional to the diffusion coefficient to the 2/3 power and I(lim) is proportional to the square root of the source power. Curves are also calculated relating I(lim) to the source to electrode separation and liquid viscosity.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Oxidation of anthracene on platinum macro- and micro-electrodes: Sonoelectrochemical, cryoelectrochemical and sonocryoelectrochemical studies.

The electro- and sonoelectro-chemical oxidation of anthracene in acetonitrile has been explored at room and low temperature (-40 degrees C) at a platinum micro- and macro-electrode, respectively. From both methodologies, the effective number of electrons, n(eff), in the oxidation process is evaluated at both room temperature and at the limit of the solvent-electrolyte freezing point. It is observed that n(eff) is close to 1 at low temperature while at room temperature it is higher, indicating sluggish follow up kinetics at lower temperature. The oxidative electrolysis of anthracene within an undivided cell, under various conditions is investigated with the product(s) obtained analysed and quantified by (1)H NMR. At room temperature under both 'silent' and 'sono' conditions the electrochemical oxidation produces 9,10-anthraquinone and bianthrone while at low temperature with acoustic streaming, anthracene-9,10-diol is additionally produced. Electrolyses with intentionally added water and also with oxygen saturation is investigated and its influence on the reaction pathway reported. In particular, the addition of water (1.4M) favours the formation of anthraquinone in a 3:1 ratio with bianthrone. Overall, the effect of lower temperature is to favour the formation of anthraquinone or its reduced form whilst the addition of insonation at low temperature is to substantially enhance the product yield per Coulomb of charge injected.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Hydrodynamic electrochemistry: design for a high-speed rotating disk electrode.

We report a novel gas-driven high-speed rotating disk electrode (HSRDE). The HSRDE when immersed in an aqueous solution rotates at approximately 650 Hz, generating laminar flow resulting in a diffusion layer, under steady-state conditions, of thickness approximately 2 microm. The use of high-pressure gas to drive the rotator offers significant improvement in electrical noise as compared to conventional mechanically driven devices. The electroanalytical utility of the HSRDE was exemplified by the anodic stripping voltammetry of arsenic(III) at a gold working electrode. The charge under the arsenic stripping peak was found to increase by more than 1 order of magnitude under the enhanced mass transport regime at the HSRDE in comparison to that seen under quiescent conditions.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Exploration of gas sensing possibilities with edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes: nitrogen dioxide detection.

The voltammetric response of nitrogen dioxide in aqueous sulfuric acid using an edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrode has been explored and contrasted with that from basal plane pyrolytic graphite, glassy carbon or boron-doped diamond electrodes. Edge plane graphite electrode is found to produce an excellent voltammetric signal in comparison with other carbon-based electrodes exhibiting a well-defined analytically useful voltammetric redox couple in 2.5 M sulfuric acid which is absent on the alternative electrodes.

Electrochemistry↗

PubMed2005

Electroreduction of N-methylphthalimide in room temperature ionic liquids under insonated and silent conditions.

The selective electroreduction N-methylphthalimide to 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-isoindolin-1-one has been performed in ionic liquids using phenol as a proton donor under silent and ultrasonic conditions. A significant increase in the rate of electroreduction is shown using ultrasonic activation and in addition high current efficiencies were observed. Some decomposition of the ionic liquid was found to have occurred under exposure to ultrasound.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes in electroanalysis: an overview.

The recent development, behavior and scope of edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes in electroanalysis are overviewed. Similarities to, and advantages, over multi-walled CNT modified electrodes are noted and the wide scope of applications, ranging through gas sensing, stripping voltammetry and biosensing, illustrated.

Ascorbic Acid↗

PubMed2005

The detection of nitrate using in-situ copper nanoparticle deposition at a boron doped diamond electrode.

Electrochemical deposition from a 0.1 M sodium sulphate solution, containing Cu2+ (adjusted to pH 3 with hydrochloric acid) produced a well defined copper nanoparticle deposit on the surface of a boron doped diamond electrode. Changing conditions such as potential (-0.8, -1.0 and -1.2 V), time (5, 2 and 0.5 s) and concentration of Cu2+ (500, 250 and 100 microM) was found to give copper nanoparticles of varying size and particle density. The electrocatalytic properties of the copper surface towards nitrate reduction were explored. An in-situ copper nanoparticle production method was developed for the detection of nitrate; this involves electrodeposition, followed by linear sweep voltammetry for the reduction of nitrate and then application of a stripping potential to renew the electrode surface. The linear sweep was discovered to have homogenised the size of the nanoparticles but their number density was still dependant on the initial conditions of deposition. Some particles were still present at the surface after the stripping potential had been applied but repetitions of the procedure showed these did not have an effect on subsequent deposits. Optimisation of the method lead to applying a deposition potential of -0.8 V, at a BDD electrode for 5 s in a 0.1 M sodium sulphate solution (pH 3) containing 100 microM Cu2+ followed by a linear sweep at 1 V/s; this yielded a limit of detection of 1.5 microM nitrate. The analytical applicability of the technique was evaluated for nitrate detection in a natural mineral water sample and was found to agree well with that stated by the manufacturer.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Novel methods for the production of silver microelectrode-arrays: their characterisation by atomic force microscopy and application to the electro-reduction of halothane.

A new method is proposed for the simple preparation of random silver micro and nano-electrode arrays. This employs acoustic streaming directed at a glassy carbon surface to "mechanically" attach particles from a suspension of metal colloidal or other small particles. The particles tend to adhere to the substrate at points of imperfection such as scratches, crevices etc. These arrays are compared with arrays formed by the electro-deposition of silver at a glassy carbon substrate, with the silver being partially stripped off, leaving a stable micro and nanoparticle array on the surface. Both surfaces are characterised using optical and atomic force microscopy. The two types of electrodes are evaluated to their analytical utility via the electrochemical reduction of halothane and their performance compared with that of a silver macroelectrode. A notable increase in sensitivity and peak current is observed.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

A comparison of different types of gold-carbon composite electrode for detection of arsenic(III).

A study has been conducted using abrasively modified basal and edge-plane graphite, carbon-paste, and carbon-epoxy electrodes to create gold-carbon composite electrodes. Using either nano or micro-sized gold particles their suitability for use in detecting arsenic(III) is assessed. It was found that gold arrays prepared from micron-sized particles gave the best performance for arsenic detection. In particular micron arrays produced in carbon-paste electrodes with an easily renewable surface work well for detection of arsenic, producing a detection limit of 5(+/-2)x10(-9) mol L(-1), with a high sensitivity of 10(+/-0.1) A mol(-1) L.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Electrocatalysis at graphite and carbon nanotube modified electrodes: edge-plane sites and tube ends are the reactive sites.

Carbon, and particularly graphite in its various forms, is an attractive electrode material. Two areas of particular interest are modified carbon electrodes and carbon nanotube electrodes. In this article we focus on the relationship between surface structure and electrochemical and chemical reactivity of electrodes based on these materials. We overview recent work in this area which has led us to believe that much of the catalytic activity, electron transfer and chemical reactivity of graphitic carbon electrodes is at surface defect sites, and in particular edge-plane-like defect sites. We also question the claimed special "catalytic" properties of carbon nanotube modified electrodes.

Catalysis↗

PubMed2004

Sonically assisted electroanalytical detection of ultratrace arsenic.

A simple portable handheld electrochemical sensor with an integrated sound source for the detection of ultratrace quantities of arsenic using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry is described. The sensor uses low-frequency sound (250 Hz) during the arsenic deposition step to enhance the sensitivity of the arsenic stripping response. It is found that under quiescent (silent) conditions a detection limit of 2.1 x 10(-7) M with a sensitivity of 0.51 M(-1) A is achievable using a 120-s accumulation period, while applying low-frequency sound using a "sonotrode" reduced this detection limit to 3.7 x 10(-9) M with an increased sensitivity of 27.2 M(-1) A. Thus, the low-frequency sonotrode is shown to increase the sensitivity by ca. 50 times while reducing the limit of detection by 2 orders of magnitude. A study of the effect of copper contamination is carried out as well as analysis in real samples; it is found that although as expected copper detrimentally effects the arsenic limit of detection, it does not rise significantly above 10(-8) M levels.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Investigation of modified basal plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes: definitive evidence for the electrocatalytic properties of the ends of carbon nanotubes.

The basis of the electrocatalytic nature of multi-wall carbon nanotubes is suggested to reside in electron transfer from the ends of nanotubes, which structurally resemble the behaviour of edge plane (as opposed to basal plane) graphite, and is demonstrated via the comparison of the electrochemical oxidation of epinephrine and the electrochemical reduction of ferricyanide at nanotube-modified electrodes using different types of graphite electrodes and with C(60)-modified electrodes.

Journal Article↗