Electroactive ceramic carbon electrode impregnated with organic liquid

Abstract

The carbon ceramic electrodes impregnated with hydrophobic organic solvent (toluene, hexadecane, nitrobenzene) containing redox probe (decamethylferrocene) were prepared. The electrode material was obtained by sol–gel process. It consists of graphite powder homogeneously dispersed in hydrophobic silica matrix. After gelation and drying it was filled with organic liquid. The electrochemical properties of the electrode were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Approximately symmetric cyclic voltammograms were obtained with these electrodes immersed in aqueous electrolyte solution. Their shape and current magnitude and position on the potential scale depends on the organic solvent and the salt present in aqueous phase. It has been concluded that the mechanism of the electrode process involves electron transfer between graphite particle and the redox probe in organic phase, followed by anion transfer from the aqueous phase.