Preparation and Electrochemical Characterization of Carbonaceous Thin Layer

Abstract

Current research is largely focused on the preparation of carbon complexes for eventual applications in electrochemical energy storage systems. A carbonaceous thin layer (CT) was synthesized on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate by the carbonization of glucose. The morphological image from scanning electron microscopy showed the high uniformity of CT with full coverage on the FTO substrate. The carbon content increased from 40% in glucose to 62% in CT by the carbonization process. Furthermore, when CT was thermally treated under a constant flow of nitrogen gas (400 degrees C for 9h, CT-9), the carbon content increased from 62 to 79%. The proficient interaction of CT on the FTO substrate was suitable for the electrochemical characterization and application. The CT on FTO was suitable to be used as a blocking layer for the electrochemical reaction. On the other hand, the CT-9 showed completely different electrochemical behaviors. CT-9 showed the significantly enhanced capacitive behavior resulted from the higher porosity of CT-9, which was electrochemically interrogated by a redox reaction of FcMeOH/FcMeOH(+).