Redox activity of CdTe quantum dots linked to nickel tetraaminophthalocyanine: Effects of adsorption versus electrodeposition on the catalytic oxidation of chlorophenols

Cadmium tellurite quantum dots (CdTe-QDs) are linked to nickel tetraamino phthalocyanine (CdTe-QDs-NiTAPc) through an amide bond. Differential pulse voltammetry shows that that NiTAPc stabilizes the QDs against oxidative disintegration into metallic products on oxidation. Electrocatalytic oxidation of 2, 4-dichlorophenol (DCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) on CdTe-QDs and CdTe-QDs-NiTAPc adsorbed or electrodeposited onto a gold electrode were studied. Adsorbed CdTe-QDs-NiTAPc shows the lowest potential for DCP and PCP oxidation and it is also more stable to fouling by PCP and its oxidation products compared to adsorbed CdTe-QDs without NiTAPc. Electrodeposited CdTe-QDs or CdTe-QDs-NiTAPc show the best activity in terms of enhanced currents towards the oxidation of the chlorophenols.