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Comparison of double-walled with single-walled carbon nanotube electrodes by electrochemistry

Authors :
Benjamin S. Flavel
Katherine E. Moore
Amanda V. Ellis
Joseph G. Shapter
Source :
Carbon. 49:2639-2647
Publication Year :
2011
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2011.

Abstract

Double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) were selectively functionalised by treatment with concentrated nitric and sulphuric acid, resulting in carboxylated outer and pristine inner tube constituents. The functionalised DWCNTs were then incorporated into two types of pre-existing carbon nanotube (CNT) electrode platforms, and the performance of each was compared to single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). To make the CNT electrode platforms DWCNTs were covalently bound to fluorinated tin oxide glass (FTO) or electrografted aminophenyl tether layers on silicon. The performance of single- compared to double-walled CNTs on FTO or silicon supported electrodes was then determined through electrochemical methods, using the redox probes, ferrocene and ruthenium hexaamine, respectively. The DWCNTs showed an improved heterogeneous rate constant. This improvement was attributed to the protection of the electronic properties of the inner wall of the DWCNT during the chemical modification and suggests that DWCNTs may offer a useful alternative to SWCNTs in future electronic devices.

Details

ISSN :
00086223
Volume :
49
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Carbon
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........3a67f6213c45dd34b09e229a29df73a9
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2011.02.048