Carbon nanowalls as material for electrochemical transducers

The electrochemical reactivity of a carbon nanowalls electrode was highlighted. The carbon nanowalls were synthesized at 520 degrees C in an acetylene/ammonia electron cyclotronic resonance plasma without any metal catalyst. The electrode surface was characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Its electrochemical reactivity was studied by both cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. After the carbon nanowalls deposition, the electronic transfer rate constant and the electroactive surface area were found to be increased by a factor of 7 and 3, respectively. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI:10.1063/1.3170033]