Anodically generated short-lived species on boron-doped diamond film electrodes

Electrodes composed of boron-doped diamond (BDD) films on metal and semiconductor substrates have a wide range of applications in electrochemistry. This research investigated short-lived species (SLS) produced by anodic polarization of BDD electrodes in 1.0 M HClO₄ solutions. Normal pulse voltammetry experiments were performed to identify anodically produced SLS with lifetimes of less than 50 ms under open-circuit conditions. Potential step chronoamperometry experiments were performed to investigate the steady-state concentrations of SLS at the electrode-solution interface as a function of potential. Anodic potentials greater than 1.5 V with respect to the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) were required to generate the SLS. Increasing anodic potentials between 1.5 and 3.0 V/SHE resulted in increasing concentrations of the SLS, until a saturation point was reached. Past work by other investigators suggests that the SLS likely consist primarily of HO* radicals produced from water oxidation.