Towards Understanding a Distinct Hydrogen Peroxide Electrocatalytic Enhancement Using Surfactant-Based Coatings on Silver

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe detection of hydrogen peroxide has been shown to be very important in recent years due to its role in many industrial applications, as well as in biological reactions. Previously, a commercial silver flake-based ink (PF-410, Acheson®), when screen-printed as films to substrate and subsequently coated with surfactant and salt (sodium dodecylbenezene sulphonate (SDBS) and KCl), have been shown to significantly enhance the electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide – up to 80-fold over non-modified films. In this study, an attempt to understand the effect of the silver material within the ink on the catalytic behaviour of the films, as well as the distinct change in behaviour upon modification with surfactant/salt are examined. Factors including Ag morphology, presence of dispersant and Ag material supplier are all investigated to assess their effects on the electrocatalytic breakdown of hydrogen peroxide. To do this, a range of inks were formulated from various Ag materials, e.g., flakes and nanoparticles of various sizes. These inks were then cast as coatings onto conventional glassy carbon (GC) electrodes, and their electrocatalytic behaviours, both as modified and non-modified films were studied.