Local electron transfer rate measurements on modified and unmodified glassy carbon electrodes

A natural and artificial distribution of electron transfer activity on glassy carbon electrodes can be observed and quantified by the use of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). A large (sevenfold) spread in rate constant is found for randomly sampled sites on polished, untreated glassy carbon surfaces. Direct-mode oxidation with the SECM tip was used to produce small regions of oxidized carbon on a polished surface. A large increase in electron transfer rate for the Fe(II/III) ion is observed on the locally oxidized carbon surface in comparison to the unoxidized region. Rate constant measurements made along a line profiles the transition from unoxidized to oxidized surfaces. SECM images of defect sites show reaction–rate variations. Rate constants measured at several locations of the defective surface allows discrimination between the kinetic and topographic components of the SECM image. Dedicated to the 80th birthday of Keith B. Oldham