Electrocatalytic studies using silver-clay composite - a novel material

A clay-modified electrode (CME) consisting of novel colloidal silver-montmo rillonite clay composite material (Ag-n(0)-MM) has been prepared and charac terized. The study on its ability to enhance the redox reactions of phenoth iazine dyes reveals that the nanosize particle nature of the silver is reta ined in the film, as reflected from cyclic voltammograms and photogalvanic studies. The photogalvanic current observed for the dyes in this composite material shows an enhanced anodic photocurrent versus the case in ion-excha nged CMEs, where the: dyes show a cathodic photocurrent. The unique behavio r is explained by a suitable mechanism. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.