Influence of electrosynthesis methods in the electrocatalytical and morphological properties of cobalt and nickel hexacyanoferrate films

Abstract Prussian Blue analogues (PBA) based on Cobalt and Nickel thin films were assembled by two distinct methodologies using direct electroprecipitation on the substrate and metallic nanoparticle surface modification. The modified electrodes were characterized by several techniques such as Infrared Reflection-Absorption and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopies, Scanning Electron and Atomic Force Microscopies, and Electrochemical methods. The electrocatalytical properties of the films were also evaluated and the rate constants for thiosulfate oxidation were obtained and discussed. The results pointed out that the metallic nanoparticle approach has presented higher electrocatalytic effect, suggesting this methodology towards the construction of high performance electrochemical based devices such as sensors, biosensors, fuel cells and others.