Reactivation and Stability of Pyrolytic Carbon Film Electrodes on Macor Substrates

Abstract

The stability of pyrolytic carbon film electrodes based on Macor substrates was evaluated. Electrode activity, estimated via cyclic voltammetry of ferricyanide, was virtually unchanged after 120 min in solution (k o =0.018 cm/s). The response decayed by less than 40% after 20 h in solution. Electrodes were deactivated by air exposure but could be restored to good levels of performance via electrode anodization (to k o =0.005 cm/s). Other reactivation methods were evaluated. Heat treatment in an Ar atmosphere and an acetone wash were nearly as effective as anodization but were less reliable. Polishing was relatively ineffective