Cyclic Voltammetric Studies of a Pyrolytic Carbon Film Electrode and the Effect of Laser Irradiation

The effects of laser irradiation with a small N₂ laser on the reactivation of a pyrolytic carbon (PC) film electrode were investigated. Cyclic voltammetry, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the electrode. The electrode response decayed during the solution exposure but could be restored to a good performance via this reactivation method. It was found that the effect of laser to promote electron transfer was desorption the physisorbed impurities to exposure more active sites on the surface. Also, the electrochemical results were compared to the results of organic solvent washing and anodization.