TY - JOUR
T1 - Electrochemical purification of carbon nanotube electrodes
AU - Heras, Aránzazu
AU - Colina, Alvaro
AU - López-Palacios, Jesús
AU - Ayala, Paola
AU - Sainio, Jani
AU - Ruiz, Viginia
AU - Kauppinen, Esko I.
N1 - doi:10.1016/j.elecom.2009.05.052
Aránzazu Herasa, Alvaro Colinaa, Jesús López-Palaciosa, Paola Ayalab, Jani Sainioc, Virginia Ruizc, Corresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author and Esko I. Kauppinenc, d
aDept. de Química, Universidad de Burgos, Pza. Misael Bañuelos s/n, E-09001, Burgos, Spain
bFakultät für Physik, Universität Wien, Strudlhofgasse 4, A-1090, Wien, Austria
cDept. of Applied Physics, Helsinki University of Technology, P.O.Box 5100, FI-02015 Espoo, Finland
dVTT Biotechnology, P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044 VTT, Finland
Received 12 May 2009;
revised 26 May 2009;
accepted 27 May 2009.
Available online 9 June 2009.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - We present a fast and effective electrochemical method to purify random networks of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) that leads to total removal of metal catalyst without apparent detrimental effect on the electrochemical properties of the electrodes. The efficiency of the electrochemical purification has been compared with that of conventional chemical purification (acid washing). The disappearance of the peaks corresponding to the electrochemical redox reactions of iron during electrochemical purification evidences removal of iron impurities. The efficiency of electrochemical cleaning is further corroborated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) of an iron-sensitive electrochemical reaction, hydrazine oxidation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy also indicates that no iron can be detected after electrochemical purification whereas some iron is still left after acid washing. Moreover, Raman spectroscopy reveals higher degree of SWCNT damage after chemical purification compared to the electrochemical one. Electrochemically purified and pristine SWCNT electrodes exhibit similar conductivity, electrochemistry and performance as optically transparent electrodes for an iron-insensitive redox probe, View the MathML source.
AB - We present a fast and effective electrochemical method to purify random networks of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) that leads to total removal of metal catalyst without apparent detrimental effect on the electrochemical properties of the electrodes. The efficiency of the electrochemical purification has been compared with that of conventional chemical purification (acid washing). The disappearance of the peaks corresponding to the electrochemical redox reactions of iron during electrochemical purification evidences removal of iron impurities. The efficiency of electrochemical cleaning is further corroborated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) of an iron-sensitive electrochemical reaction, hydrazine oxidation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy also indicates that no iron can be detected after electrochemical purification whereas some iron is still left after acid washing. Moreover, Raman spectroscopy reveals higher degree of SWCNT damage after chemical purification compared to the electrochemical one. Electrochemically purified and pristine SWCNT electrodes exhibit similar conductivity, electrochemistry and performance as optically transparent electrodes for an iron-insensitive redox probe, View the MathML source.
U2 - 10.1016/j.elecom.2009.05.052
DO - 10.1016/j.elecom.2009.05.052
M3 - Article
SN - 1388-2481
VL - 11
SP - 1535
EP - 1538
JO - Electrochemistry Communications
JF - Electrochemistry Communications
IS - 7
ER -