Abstract
Injection of solution species into glassy carbon electrodes has been monitored by Phase Detection Microscopy (PDM), and by sputter profiling and surface analysis. Electrochemical treatment in strongly alkaline solutions at positive voltage conditions caused swelling of the surface at local spots and eventual disruption of the surface with the formation of pits. The number, size, and depth of the pits increased with increased voltage. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) depth profiles revealed the presence of oxygen species below the surface at depths that were dependent on electrochemical treatment. Increased positive voltage or increased treatment time gave surfaces with oxygen at greater depths below the surface. Glassy carbon, activated as described here, has been found to support a high rate oxidation of S2- to polysulfides.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 67-81 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry |
| Volume | 267 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 10 1989 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Partial support for this research was provided by NSF/CBT-8513166-03 . Dr. Hartshorn acknowledges support from a NSF Research Opportunities Award as a supplement to the above grant. The Phase Detection Interferometric Microscope was obtained with an NSF Instrumentation Grant .