Electrocatalytic studies using silver-clay composite - a novel material

A clay-modified electrode (CME) consisting of novel colloidal silver-montmorillonite clay composite material (Ag-n(0)-MM) has been prepared and characterized. The study on its ability to enhance the redox reactions of phenothiazine dyes reveals that the nanosize particle nature of the silver is retained in the film, as reflected from cyclic voltammograms and photogalvanic studies. The photogalvanic current observed for the dyes in this composite material shows an enhanced anodic photocurrent versus the case in ion-exchanged CMEs, where the: dyes show a cathodic photocurrent. The unique behavior is explained by a suitable mechanism. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.