Electrochemistry at carbon nanotubes: perspective and issues

被引:268
作者
Dumitrescu, Ioana [1 ]
Unwin, Patrick R. [1 ]
Macpherson, Julie V. [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Warwick, Dept Chem, Coventry CV4 7AL, W Midlands, England
关键词
PLANE PYROLYTIC-GRAPHITE; ELECTRON-TRANSFER KINETICS; CHEMICAL-VAPOR-DEPOSITION; CATALYST-FREE GROWTH; METAL NANOPARTICLES; SIDEWALL FUNCTIONALIZATION; ELECTROCATALYTIC BEHAVIOR; NETWORK ELECTRODES; RAMAN-SPECTROSCOPY; PASTE ELECTRODES;
D O I
10.1039/b909734a
中图分类号
O6 [化学];
学科分类号
0703 ;
摘要
Electrochemistry at carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is a large and growing field, but one in which there is still uncertainty about the fundamental activity of CNTs as electrode materials. On the one hand, there are many reports which focus on the favourable electrochemical properties of CNT electrodes, such as enhanced detection sensitivity, electrocatalytic effects and reduced fouling. On the other hand, other studies suggest that CNTs may be no more electroactive than graphitic powder. Furthermore, it has been proposed that the catalytic nanoparticles from which CNTs are formed may dominate the electrochemical characteristics in some instances. A considerable body of the literature presumes that the CNT sidewall is inert and that edge-plane-graphite-like open ends and defect sites are responsible for the electron transfer activity observed. In contrast, studies of well characterised single-walled nanotube (SWNT) electrodes, either as individual tubes or as two-dimensional networks, suggest sidewall activity. This review highlights how the various discrepancies in CNT electrochemistry may have arisen, by taking a historical view of the field and identifying crucial issues that still need to be solved. When assessing the behaviour of CNT electrodes, it is vitally important that careful consideration is given to the type of CNT used (SWNT or multi-walled), the quality of the material (presence of impurities), the effect of chemical processing steps in the fabrication of electrodes and the experimental arrangements adopted. Understanding these key features is an essential requirement to develop a fundamental understanding of CNT electrochemistry, to allow a wide range of electroanalytical applications, and to move the field forward rationally. As part of this process, high resolution electrochemical and electrical imaging techniques are expected to play a significant role in the future, as well as theoretical developments which examine the fundamentals of electron transfer at different types of CNTs and their characteristic surface sites.
引用
收藏
页码:6886 / 6901
页数:16
相关论文
共 121 条
[1]   CARBON PASTE ELECTRODES [J].
ADAMS, RN .
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, 1958, 30 (09) :1576-1576
[2]   Role of carbon nanotubes in electroanalytical chemistry -: A review [J].
Agui, Lourdes ;
Yanez-Sedeno, Paloma ;
Pingarron, Jose M. .
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA, 2008, 622 (1-2) :11-47
[3]   Biosensors based on carbon nanotubes [J].
Balasubramanian, Kannan ;
Burghard, Marko .
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, 2006, 385 (03) :452-468
[4]   Carbon nanotubes contain metal impurities which are responsible for the "electrocatalysis" seen at some nanotube-modified electrodes [J].
Banks, CE ;
Crossley, A ;
Salter, C ;
Wilkins, SJ ;
Compton, RG .
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION, 2006, 45 (16) :2533-2537
[5]   New electrodes for old: from carbon nanotubes to edge plane pyrolytic graphite [J].
Banks, CE ;
Compton, RG .
ANALYST, 2006, 131 (01) :15-21
[6]   Exploring the electrocatalytic sites of carbon nanotubes for NADH detection: an edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrode study [J].
Banks, CE ;
Compton, RG .
ANALYST, 2005, 130 (09) :1232-1239
[7]   Electrocatalysis at graphite and carbon nanotube modified electrodes: edge-plane sites and tube ends are the reactive sites [J].
Banks, CE ;
Davies, TJ ;
Wildgoose, GG ;
Compton, RG .
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS, 2005, (07) :829-841
[8]   Investigation of modified basal plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes: definitive evidence for the electrocatalytic properties of the ends of carbon nanotubes [J].
Banks, CE ;
Moore, RR ;
Davies, TJ ;
Compton, RG .
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS, 2004, (16) :1804-1805
[9]   Carbon nanotubes - the route toward applications [J].
Baughman, RH ;
Zakhidov, AA ;
de Heer, WA .
SCIENCE, 2002, 297 (5582) :787-792
[10]   Trace level cyclic voltarnmetry facilitated by single-walled carbon nanotube network electrodes [J].
Bertoncello, Paolo ;
Edgeworth, Jonathan P. ;
Macpherson, Julie V. ;
Unwin, Patrick R. .
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, 2007, 129 (36) :10982-+