CHARACTERIZATION OF HG-PT OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT ELECTRODES

A mercury-coated platinum film optically transparent electrode, Hg-Pt OTE, has been evaluated with respect to the nature of its surface. An optimum procedure for preparing Hg-Pt OTEs by electrochemically depositing mercury on a vapor-deposited Pt OTE was developed. The resulting electrodes were characterized by voltammetric stripping of the deposited mercury films and microscopic observation. A relatively stable electrode in which the surface consists of platinum-mercury compounds can be prepared by depositing a ca. 5-nm film of mercury. Thicker mercury films are characterized by mercury droplets which amalgamate with the substrate platinum film, eventually forming a platinum-mercury compound surface. © 1979 Elsevier Sequoia S.A.