The effects of surface energetics and surface oxide layers on the cyclic voltammetry of metallocenes at nonilluminated p-InP electrodes

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · J. Electrochem. Soc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2113916· OSTI ID:5077898

Koval, C A; Austermann, R L; Parkinson, B A; Turner, J A

Electron-transfer processes at highly doped p-InP electrodes were investigated by monitoring the cyclic voltammetric dark currents of a series of metallocenes in acetonitrile solutions. The formal reduction potentials of the metallocenes span the bandgap of InP, allowing a comparison of the cyclic voltammetric response as a function of the formal reduction potential and the energetic condition of the electrode surface. Since the electro transfer of all of the metallocenes was electrochemically reversible on the timescale of cyclic voltammetry at a platinum electrode, differences in the voltammetric responses at p-InP were attributed to processes within the semiconductor or to surface phenomena. The energetic condition of the electrode surface during the cyclic voltammetric experiment was monitored by measurements of the capacitance of the space-charge region. Although a simple chemical etching and electrochemical cycling procedure yielded reproducible surface energetics, the p-InP/oxide/CH/sub 3/CN interface responded ideally to changes in electrode potential over a range of only about 0.8V. Metallocene redox couples with E/sup 0/' located within that range exhibited reversible cyclic voltammetry when the experiment was performed within that range. The couples with E/sup 0/' located outside of the ideal range displayed irreversible cyclic voltammetry. Voltammetric responses for p-InP electrodes with different crystal orientations and doping densities were compared.

• Research Organization: Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
• OSTI ID: 5077898
• Journal Information: J. Electrochem. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Electrochem. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 132:3; ISSN JESOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400400 -- Electrochemistry
ACETONITRILE
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
CRYSTAL DOPING
CURRENTS
CYANIDES
DOPED MATERIALS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTRODES
ELECTRON TRANSFER
ENERGY
ETCHING
FREE ENERGY
INDIUM COMPOUNDS
INDIUM PHOSPHIDES
LAYERS
MATERIALS
NITRILES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
P-TYPE CONDUCTORS
PHOSPHIDES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCURRENTS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PNICTIDES
REDOX POTENTIAL
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SURFACE ENERGY
SURFACE FINISHING
SURFACE PROPERTIES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
VOLTAMETRY