Spectroelectrochemistry at free-standing carbon nanotubes electrodes

Abstract

A versatile and low-cost methodology for fabricating free-standing carbon nanotubes (CNT) electrodes for electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical applications is described. The uniformity, flexibility and resistance to bending of these films make them one of the most interesting membranes in a wide range of applications. CNT electrodes were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy and their electrochemical performance was assessed employing various redox species such as ferrocenemethanol, hexacyanoferrate (II) and dopamine. Free-standing single-walled CNT electrodes exhibit good conductivity and transparency to UV–vis radiation, making them suitable as optically transparent electrodes. This is exemplified by monitoring, using UV–vis absorption spectroelectrochemistry, the electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on one face of the free-standing CNT electrodes, while the other face remained unmodified.