Spectroelectrochemical measurements at colloidal an multilayer optically transparent electrodes

Application of thin colloidal Au multilayers on glass substrates as optically transparent electrodes is reported herein. Evaluation of the electrode by scanning electron microscopy and as an optically transparent thin layer electrode (OTTLE) illustrate its use for spectroelectrochemical applications. A spectroelectrochemical Nernst plot acquired for the oxidation of o-tolidine yielded a value of Edegrees = 0.605 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and n = 1.88. Both of these values are in excellent agreement with previously published values obtained using a traditional Au minigrid OTTLE. The colloidal Au multilayer electrode is expected to offer many advantages over the minigrid OTTLE in specific applications. These advantages include direct control over microscopic surface topography, large electrochemical surface area, applicability to many different electrode geometries, and increased microscopic surface roughness for SERS and SPR applications.