The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Gas Research Institute

Allied Corporation

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Health

Research Triangle Institute

Royce W Murray

Thomas J Meyer

T David Westmoreland

William J Vining

Terrence R O'Toole

Lawrence D Margerum

B Patrick Sullivan

David A Wink

H Holden Thorp

Janet N Younathan

George J Samuels

Danae D Christodoulou

Tadeusz Malinski

Thomas A Schmitkons

Melani Sullivan

P R Moses

Larry Wier

Anthony M Leone

Terry L Streeter

Mary Elizabeth Williams

Compositions of biomolecules such as nucleic acids that form molten salts are provided. These compositions molten compositions that have useful electrical properties. Such compositions include a salt of (i) an organic polymer ion such as a polynucleic acid anion, and (ii) a polyether or polysiloxane couterion. Methods of making and using such compositions, along with electrical devices such as memory devices, are also provided.

Electrical devices employing molten compositions of biomolecules

An electrode sensor which may be used to specifically and quantitatively measure nitric oxide is provided, as well as a method of preparing and using such an electrode sensor to measure nitric oxide concentration in solution. A nitric oxide (NO) microsensor based on catalytic oxidation of NO comprises a thermally-sharpened carbon fiber with a tip diameter of about 0.5-0.7 .mu.m coated with several layers of p-type semiconducting polymeric porphyrin and cationic exchanger deposited thereon. The microsensor, which can be operated in either the amperometric, voltammetric or coulometric mode utilizing a two or three electrode system, is characterized by a linear response up to about 300 .mu.M, a response time better than 10 msec and a detection limit of about 10 nM. The sensor of the present invention also discriminates against nitrite, the most problematic interferant in NO measurements. The amount of NO released from a single cell can thus be selectively measured in situ by a porphyrinic microsensor of the invention. A larger scale sensor utilizing porphyrin and cationic exchanger deposited on larger fibers or wires, platinum mesh or tin indium oxide layered on glass, can also be employed when measurement of NO concentration in chemical media, tissue or cell culture is desired.

Nitric oxide sensor

An electrode that has a film adsorbed to its surface by reductive electropolymerization of (vbpy)Re(CO).sub.3 Cl (4-vinyl-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine tricarbonylchlororhenium(I)) or its acetonitrile analogue, [(vbpy)Re(CO).sub.3 (MeCN)].sup.+ (4-vinyl-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine tricarbonylacetonitrile rhenium (I)). The poly(vbpy)Re(CO).sub.3 Cl or poly[(vbpy)Re(CO).sub.3 (MeCN)].sup.+ adsorbed onto the electrode, acts as a catalyst for CO.sub.2 reduction to CO. Stability and the reactivity of the polymer film may be increased by co-reductive electropolymerization of either of the aforesaid Re complexes with [(bpy).sub.2 Ru(vpy).sub.2.sup.2+ (bis(4-vinyl-pyridine)bis(2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium (II)) (vpy is 4-vinylpyridine). A bilayer film assembly consisting of poly-[(bpy).sub.2 Ru(vpy).sub.2 ].sup.2+ as an inner film and the aforementioned copolymer of Ru/Re yields even greater reactivity to CO.sub.2. A method of forming a polymeric film on an electrode. A method of reducing CO.sub.2 to CO using an electrode having a polymeric film adsorbed to its surface.

Chemically modified electrodes for the catalytic reduction of CO.sub.2

An electrode that has a film adsorbed to its surface by reductive electropolymerization of (vbpy)Re(CO).sub.3 Cl (4-vinyl-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine tricarbonylchlororhenium(I)) or its acetonitrile analogue, [(vbpy)Re(CO).sub.3 (MeCN)].sup.+ (4-vinyl-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine tricarbonylacetonitrile rhenium (I)). The poly (vbpy)Re(CO).sub.3 Cl or poly-[(vbpy)Re(CO).sub.3 (MeCN)].sup.+ adsorbed onto the electrode, acts as a catalyst for CO.sub.2 reduction to CO. Stability and the reactivity of the polymer film may be increased by co-reductive electropolymeriaztion of either of the aforesaid Re complexes with [(bpy).sub.2 Ru(vpy).sub.2.sup.2+ ](bis(4-vinyl-pyridine)bis(2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium (II)) (vpy is 4-vinylpyridine). A bilayer film assembly consisting of poly-[(bpy).sub.2 Ru(vpy).sub.2 ].sup.2+ as an inner film and the aforementioned copolymer of Ru/Re yields even greater reactivity to CO.sub.2. A method of forming a polymeric film on an electrode. A method of reducing CO.sub.2 to CO using an electrode having a polymeric film adsorbed to its surface.

Novel catalytic electrode in which the oxidation catalyst is protected from unfavorable redox potentials by an insulation/rectification matrix composed of a polymeric matrix containing an insulating and rectifying effective amount of a dispersed redox conductor.

Bifunctional air electrode

A superficially mixed metal oxide electrode and a method of preparing same. The electrode is useful in anodic electrochemical reactions. There is no distinct outer layer of either noble metal or noble metal oxide. Instead, the noble metal or noble metal oxide is superficially mixed in with a layer of an oxide of a film-forming metal which has been deposited over a conductive base metal.

Superficially mixed metal oxide electrodes

Growing community of inventors

Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America

Royce W Murray