Variation of Carbon Based Materials on the Electropolymerization of Tyramine

Abstract

AbstractThe electropolymerization of tyramine has been investigated using glassy carbon electrodes modified with six classes of carbon materials, namely carbon black, graphitized carbon, graphite, graphene oxide, chemical vapour deposition based multi‐walled carbon nanotubes and arc discharged based multi‐walled carbon nanotubes. These materials were characterized before and after electrodeposition of polytyramine (PT) by Raman spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. Previously, other groups have established that impurities present in carbon materials, can play a critical role in electrocatalytic activity. In this study, the presence of graphitic basal plane carbon, rather than metallic impurities, is believed to initiate the formation of a redox active PT film that mediates the oxidation of NADH. The importance of graphitic basal plane carbon was supported by examining the impact of the graphitization of carbon black over the range of 500 to 2000 °C. Graphitic basal plane carbon impurity was demonstrated to be highly active and important with respect to the electrodeposition of a PT film that possesses significant catalytic activity towards the oxidation of NADH.