Electron injection from nanostructured carbon electrodes at moderate cathodic potentials

Voltammograms of electrodes based on nanostructured carbon of different morphology (single-wall carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofilaments, columnar structures) are taken in hexamethylphosphortriamide solutions. For all listed electrodes, direct experimental proof of the electron injection to the electrolyte solution at moderate cathodic potentials is obtained. It is found that this phenomenon is associated with the existence of atomically sharp spots at the electrode surface, which operate as local cathodes for the electron emission. It is shown that the current-voltage characteristics for the electron injection to the electrolyte solution differ from those for the field electron emission current at the electrode/vacuum interface.