METAL-DISPERSED POROUS CARBON-FILMS AS ELECTROCATALYTIC SENSORS

The attractive features of ultrathin porous carbon films have been cou pled with the efficient catalytic action of dispersed metal particles. In particular, loading of these submicrometer foams with ruthenium or platinum centers offers a dramatic increase in the electron transfer rates of important redox systems, such as NADH, uric acid, ascorbic ac id, acetaminophen, hydrazine or hydrogen peroxide. Characterization of the electrocatalytic behavior (with respect to the pH, scan rate or m etal loading) and the attractive low-potential analytical (sensing) pe rformance are reported. Scanning electron microscopy sheds useful insi ghts into the distribution of the metals within the porous electrode m atrix.