Electrochemical activation of carbon electrodes in base: Minimization of dopamine adsorption and electrode capacitance

Abstract

A study has been made of the optimum conditions for electrochemical activation of carbon electrodes used in the analysis of dopamine. The conditions optimized were electrolyte pH, activation voltage, and the duration of the activation. The parameters monitored during the optimization were the reversibility of the dopamine couple, electrode capacitance, and dopamine adsorption. It was found that both the capacitance and dopamine adsorption decreased as the pH of the electrolyte was increased. The optimum conditions found for electrochemical activation were a pH of 13, a potential of 1.2 V (SCE) for a duration of 5 min. These activation conditions were then applied to a number of glassy carbons and a pyrolytic carbon film electrode. © 1989, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.