Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Vol.142, No.1, 58-63, 1995
Hydrogen Sensing with Thin-Filmed Copper Dicyanoanthraquinone Diimine Electrodes
Thin-filmed copper dicyanoanthraquinone diimines, (DCNAQI)Cu, were electrochemically deposited on conductive SnO2 electrodes, and characterized in aqueous K2SO4 solutions containing methyl viologen and ferricyanide. They behave like an n-type semiconductor with a potential window 1.0 similar to -1.0 V vs. SCE. Under bandgap excitation (4,000 cm(-1)), the conductance recorded with these electrodes was observed to be substantially enhanced, but very sensitive to the presence of hydrogen. A nearly linear relationship of conductance difference between light and dark against the partial pressure of hydrogen was obtained with most (DCNAQI)Cu electrodes. The adsorption of hydrogen at (DCNAQI)Cu surface follows a simple Langmuir isotherm with an equilibrium constant in the range 1.7 similar to 2.6 atm(-1), as manifested by conductance measurements. Despite possessing a relatively smaller adsorption equilibrium constant, (beta-methyl-DCNAQI)Cu exhibits the greatest sensitivity to hydrogen. This extraordinary sensitivity is very likely attributed to the mediation of surface states, located near the valence band.
Keywords:SEMICONDUCTOR-LIQUID JUNCTIONS;ENZYME ELECTRODES;STATE PROPERTIES;REDOX COUPLES;POLY(3-ALKYLTHIOPHENE);PHOTOELECTROCHEMISTRY;PHTHALOCYANINES;EFFICIENCY;OXIDATION;DISULFIDE