In-situ monitoring of electropolymerization processes at boron-doped diamond electrodes by Mach-Zehnder interferometer

Abstract

In this work, the Mach-Zehnder interferometer was designed to monitor the electrochemical processes conducted at boron-doped diamond electrode surface. The diamond electrodes were synthesized via Microwave Plasma-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition on optical grade quartz glass. The achieved transmittance in working are of diamond electrodes reached 55 %. A cage system-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer was used which allowed the insertion of thin-layer electrochemical cells. Electrochemical studies were carried out in a thin-layer working cell. The application of such setup, allows to combine optical monitoring of surface of the working electrode during electrochemical measurements, electropolymerization or surface modification. The conducted investigation shows that during surface modification by melamine the phase shift is up to 0.0328 μm−1. The aforementioned set up can be applied for in situ monitoring of surface modifications with various compounds, and to detect organic substances whose oxidation or reduction products absorb onto the electrode surface.