Effect of different pretreatments on indium-tin oxide electrodes

Abstract

The effect of pretreatment on indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrodes has been rarely studied, although that on metal and carbon electrodes has been enormously done. The electrochemical and surface properties of ITO electrodes are investigated after 6 different pretreatments. The electrochemical behaviors for oxygen reduction, Ru(NH3)63+ reduction, Fe(CN) 63- reduction, and p-hydroquinone oxidation are compared, and the surface roughness, hydrophilicity, and surface chemical composition are also compared. Oxygen reduction, Fe(CN)63- reduction, and p-hydroquinone oxidation are highly affected by the type of the pretreatment, whereas Ru(NH3)63+ reduction is almost independent of it. Interestingly, oxygen reduction is significantly suppressed by the treatment in an HCl solution. The changes in surface roughness and composition are not high after each pretreatment, but the change in contact angle is substantial in some pretreatments.