In-situ monitoring of electropolymerization processes at boron-doped diamond electrodes by Mach-Zehnder interferometer

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Chemical, 2020-02, Vol.304, p.127315, Article 127315
• Main Authors: Sobaszek, Michał, Strąkowski, Marcin, Skowroński, Łukasz, Siuzdak, Katarzyna, Sawczak, Mirosław, Własny, Igor, Wysmołek, Andrzej, Wieloszyńska, Aleksandra, Pluciński, Jerzy, Bogdanowicz, Robert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Boron; Boron-doped diamond; Chemical synthesis; Chemical vapor deposition; Cyclic voltammetry; Diamonds; Electrochemical cells; Electrodes; In-situ monitoring; Mach-Zehnder interferometer; Mach-Zehnder interferometers; Melamine; Microwave plasmas; Monitoring; Organic chemistry; Oxidation; Plasma; Polymerization; Silica glass; Spectroelectrochemistry
• ISSN: 0925-4005; 1873-3077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2019.127315

[Display omitted] •Spectroelectrochemistry measurements carried out by interferometry and cyclic voltammetry.•In-situ monitoring of surface modification of diamond electrode by melamine.•Optically transparent boron-doped diamond with 55 % optical transmittance in operating area (631.05–635.05 nm).•Low demand of investigated electrolyte (32 μL). In this work, the Mach-Zehnder interferometer was designed to monitor the electrochemical processes conducted at boron-doped diamond electrode surface. The diamond electrodes were synthesized via Microwave Plasma-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition on optical grade quartz glass. The achieved transmittance in working are of diamond electrodes reached 55 %. A cage system-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer was used which allowed the insertion of thin-layer electrochemical cells. Electrochemical studies were carried out in a thin-layer working cell. The application of such setup, allows to combine optical monitoring of surface of the working electrode during electrochemical measurements, electropolymerization or surface modification. The conducted investigation shows that during surface modification by melamine the phase shift is up to 0.0328 μm−1. The aforementioned set up can be applied for in situ monitoring of surface modifications with various compounds, and to detect organic substances whose oxidation or reduction products absorb onto the electrode surface.