Zhiyu Jiang

In situ transmission difference FTIR spectroscopic investigation on anodic oxidation of methanol in aqueous solution

In situ transmission difference FTIR spectroscopy method was introduced for studying the anodic oxidation of methanol in acid aqueous solution. A minigrid Pt optically transparent thin layer electrode was used as working electrode. This method has the ability to clarify the identity of species involved in the oxidation process both in solution and adsorbed at the surface of electrode. From the results of in situ transmission difference FTIR spectroscopy measurement it was found that HCHO, HCOOH, HCOOCH3 and CH2(OCH3)2 could be formed in the oxidation process of methanol. The final product was CO2. The adsorbed poisonous intermediate CO was detected. It was formed at near 0.6 V and became significant at 0.9 V, where the oxidation current was inhibited. The in situ transmission difference FTIR spectroscopy method is a very convenient, relative simplicity and efficient method for investigating the electrochemical process, and could be as a good candidate for further application.

Immobilization of barley protoplasts on a polyelectrolyte modified electrode for measuring the photoelectric behavior of protoplasts

Abstract A novel method to immobilize barley protoplasts on the poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) gold/(PDADMAC) electrode was developed for the purpose to measure the photoelectric behavior of barley protoplasts. The electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) results show that the thickness of the adsorbed PDADMAC layer is 2.4 nm. The barley protoplasts are immobilized on the surface of gold/PDADMAC electrode due to the electrostatic adsorption between negatively charged protoplasts and positively charged PDADMAC. The fluorescence image taken by laser scanning confocal microscope shows that the attached barley protoplasts are integrity. For the gold/PDADMAC/barley protoplast electrode an anodic photocurrent was observed under the irradiation of white light (wavelength of 200–800 nm) and its properties are discussed. This novel method may provide a convenient technique for immobilizing cells or other bio-particles on the surface of electrode for studying their electrochemical characters.