Abstract: The present invention generally relates to compositions and methods comprising polyoxometalates (POMs). In some cases, a reduced form of a POM may be formed via electrolysis in the presence of essentially no supporting electrolyte. The reduced POMs may be used for various applications, for example, for the formation of metallic nanoparticles. Some embodiments of the present invention provide compositions and methods comprising reduced forms of the polyoxometalate, [alpha-SiW12O40]4?.

Abstract: Biomolecule-specific probe is immobilized on an electrode surface to form a modified electrode. The modified electrode is exposed to target biomolecule. The biomolecule is captured by the probe whereby a first complex with the biomolecule is formed. Subsequently, the biomolecule is exposed to electroactive label having binding affinity to the biomolecule. The biomolecule adsorbs the electroactive label to the modified electrode to form a working electrode whereby a second complex comprising the first complex with the biomolecule and the bound electroactive label is formed. The working electrode is placed in an electrolyte medium and electrochemical measurement between the working electrode and a reference electrode is taken wherein the electrochemical measurement comprises the measurement of electrical signal resulting from a solid-state electrochemical process involving the electroactive labels.