Electrodeposition of cobalt oxide films from carbonate solutions containing Co(II)–tartrate complexes

An electrochemical procedure of anodic deposition of cobalt oxyhydroxide film on a glassy carbon substrate in an alkaline medium (i.e. pH 11.6) is described. The electrodeposited film was obtained either by voltage cycling or by potentiostatic conditions using non-deaerated 0.1 M Na₂CO₃ solutions containing 40 mM tartrate ions and 4 mM CoCl₂. The effects on the film formation and growth, such as tartrate–cobalt ratio, pH, applied potential, etc. were widely evaluated. The electrodeposition process, under anodic conditions and moderately alkaline solutions, most likely involves a redox transition Co(II)→Co(III)/Co(IV) with destruction of the tartrate complex and formation of insoluble oxide/hydroxide cobalt species on the glassy carbon surface. The resulting cobalt oxyhydroxide films were characterised by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in 0.1 M NaOH solutions and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis after different strategies of preparation and various electrochemical treatments. The electrochemical activity of the deposited films was checked using various organic molecules as model compounds.