Electron‐transfer properties of pyrolytic graphite optically transparent electrodes

Abstract

AbstractThe electron‐transfer characteristics of metal mesh optically transparent electrodes, which were modified by chemical vapor deposition of pyrolytic graphite, are investigated. The pyrolytic graphite optically transparent electrodes are found to exhibit sluggish electron‐transfer toward several transition metal probes. Subsequent activation of the electrode surface is accomplished by RF plasma etching of the carbon layer to expose a higher density of edge plane carbon. A limiting current response is achieved after 2.5 min of RF exposure. As a result of the activation process, sharper voltammograms and reduced peak separations are observed in cyclic voltammetric measurements, while reduced equilibration times are found for thin‐layer spectroelectrochemical measurements. [Fe(CN)6],3‐, ferrocene monocarboxylic acid, cobalt(III)sepulchrate {[Co(sep)] 3+} and tris(1, l0‐phenanthroline)cobalt(III){[Co(phen)3]3+} are used to characterize the response of the pyrolytic graphite optically transparent electrodes for electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical measurements.