Multi-walled carbon nanotubes as electrode materials for electrochemical studies of organometallic compounds in organic solvent media

Abstract  

Films of vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were selectively synthesized on silicon dioxide substrate by catalytic chemical vapor deposition using either benzene or acetonitrile as carbon source and ferrocene (1% w/w) as catalyst. The MWCNT were extensively characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. In order to examine the prospective application of the fabricated MWCNT films for the detection of electro-active compounds in organic solvent media, electrochemical studies of the oxidation of cobaltocene (CoCp₂) to cobaltocenium cation (CoCp₂⁺) (Cp = cyclopentadienyl anion) in acetonitrile were performed on these films. For this purpose, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were employed. The electrochemical parameters for the CoCp₂^+/0 couple in acetonitrile were derived and compared with those obtained using a conventional glassy carbon electrode. The results demonstrate that the synthesized MWCNT films are promising electrode materials for the electrochemical detection of electro-active species in organic solvents. The MWCNT film formed upon decay of benzene has higher capacitance, less Warburg impedance, and less charge transfer resistance, and consequently it provides faster electron transfer kinetics.