Research project: Denuault: Nanostructured microelectrodes
We have been investigating the amperometric properties of microdisc electrodes modified with nanoporous films.
We have been investigating the amperometric properties of microdisc electrodes modified with nanoporous films.
These microelectrodes present the unique feature of having a large electroactive area (up to 1000 times greater than that of the bare electrode) while retaining the diffusional properties of conventional microdiscs. Such unique combination of properties is useful for redox processes involving an adsorption or absorption step. The modified electrode offers a huge number of active sites and its catalytic properties are significantly improved. E.g. the voltammetry of oxygen is markedly different on mesoporous microdiscs. Similarly, we found that the voltammetry of hydrogen peroxide is dramatically improved.
For more details see the following publications:
We have also studied the potentiometric properties of microdisc electrodes modified with nanostructured films. In the example below nanostructured Pd films deposited onto Pt microdisc electrodes are loaded with hydrogen to form a palladium hydride and used to measure pH potentiometrically. Thanks to the nanostructure these electrodes yield a very good potentiometric response with a level of quality (reproducibility, agreement with theory, stability, etc…) not found with conventional microelectrodes. We are using these electrodes as SECM tips for the localised detection of pH.
For more details see the following publications:
Recently we have applied this methodology to study pH changes during carbonation of lime: