The results described here demonstrate the power of combining electrochemical measurements and scanning force microscopy (SFM) for the characterization of chemically modified carbon electrodes. The morphological and compositional transformations of glassy carbon (GC) electrodes induced by electrochemical oxidation are probed with tapping mode SFM (TM SFM) and voltammetry. Oxidation in acidic solution does not alter the morphology of polished GC significantly, while anodization in base etches the surface. For the first time, phase contrast TM SFM is used to track compositional variations induced at GC surfaces. The phase contrast results correlate well with chemical changes suggested by electrochemical parameters.
展开▼
