Electrochemical properties of redox mediators at carbon electrodes

Thesis

Chapter1 gives an overview of the basic principles of electrochemistry.

A rigorous electrochemical study on the solution phase and solid phase cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPC) is presented in chapter2. The formof CoPC on carbon electrodes was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The use of CoPC modified edge plane pyrolytic graphite (CoPC-EPPG) for sensing nitrite (NO₂⁻) was also investigated. It was found that the claimed mediator CoPC has no influence on the process. A bare glassy carbon (GC) electrode was successfully applied for the quantitative determination of nitrite as a simple alternative to the modified electrodes reported in the literature (chapter3).

Chapter4 compares the voltammetric responses of an edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrode covalently modifed with 2-anthraquinonyl groups (EPPG-AQ2) and solution phase anthraquinone monosulphonate (AQMS) in the presence of a limited concentration of protons. The solution phase and surface bound species show analogous responses resulting in split waves. Digisim™ simulation of the AQMS voltammetry have shown that the pH adjacent to the electrode may be altered by up to 5-6 pH units in low buffered solutions; this is caused by the consumption of protons during the electrochemical reaction.

Chapters5 and 6 compare the electrochemical properties of 2-anthraquinonyl groups covalently attached to an edge plane pyrolytic graphite (EPPG) and to a gold electrode. In both cases simulations using newly developedMarcus-Hush-Chidsey theory for a 2e⁻ process assuming a uniform surface did not achieve a good agreement between theory and experiment. Subsequently two models of surface inhomogeneity were investigated: a distribution of formal potentials, E^Ө, and a distribution of electron tunneling distances, r₀. For both EPPG-AQ2 and Au-AQ2 modified electrodes the simulation involving E^Ө distribution turned out to be the most adequate. This is the first time that Marcus-Hush-Chidsey theory has been applied to a 2e⁻ system.

Chapter7 briefly summarizes the obtained results.

Authors: Kozub, BR

• Publication date: 2011
• DOI: 10.5287/ora-koppjzrmn
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: carbon; cyclic voltammetry; potential distribution; cobalt phthalocyanine; Marcus-Hush-Chidsey theory; nitrite; sensing; modified electrode; quinone; electrochemistry
• Subjects: Electrochemistry and electrolysis; Chemistry & allied sciences; Physical & theoretical chemistry