Dimensionally Stable Anode-Type Anode Based on Conductive p-Silicon Substrate

Abstract

In the search for a good dimensionally stable anode-type electrode, p-silicon (1-3 mΩ cm) has been chosen as the substrate material due to its high anodic stability and its reasonable cost compared to titanium and tantalum. Several electrodes have been prepared by thermal decomposition at different temperature. The effect of preparation temperature on the morphological and electrochemical properties has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy analysis, X-ray diffraction, and cyclic voltammetries in 1 M showing that prepared at 450°C presents a high surface area and a low degree of crystallinity, while increasing the calcination temperature resulted in a decrease of true area and an increase in crystallite size. The activity of electrodes for simple electron transfer reactions and for complex electrode reactions has been also studied by cyclic voltammetry and linear polarization in solutions containing the hydroquinone/benzoquinone redox couple and various organic compounds (isopropanol, tert-butanol, methanol). Finally, the anodic stability of a electrodes prepared at 450°C has been tested by an accelerated service life test. p-Silicon based electrodes were shown to have the highest standardized service life compared with that of titanium- or tantalum-based electrodes. © 2003 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.